Tri-linear interpolation algorithm can achieve cerebral white matter fiber reliable tracking

At present, fiber tracking algorithms are divided into deterministic tractography and probabilistic tractography. In deterministic algorithms, scholars proposed the fiber assignment by continuous tracking algorithm, the tensor deflection algorithm, the tensorline algorithm. Deterministic algorithms track fibers mainly depending on diffusion direction; however, they are susceptible to noise and partial volume effects, which result in the accumulation of tracking errors. Probabilistic algorithms can effectively reduce noise and partial volume effects, thus decreasing the accumulated errors and providing more fiber orientations. Unfortunately, their calculations are very complicated, time-consuming and easy to produce additional ambiguous fibers, which make the application of these algorithms difficult. In response to these phenomena, Shan Jiang and colleagues from School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University proposed the tri-linear interpolation algorithm for white matter fiber tracking. A recent study from Jiang et al, published in the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 23, 2013), selected a patient with acute infarction of the right basal ganglia and designed experiments based on either the tri-linear interpolation algorithm or tensorline algorithm.

Fiber tracking in the same regions of interest (genu of the corpus callosum) was performed separately. The validity of the tri-linear interpolation algorithm was verified by quantitative analysis, and its feasibility in clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the contrast between tracking results and the disease condition of the patient as well as the actual brain anatomy. Statistical results showed that the maximum length and average length of the white matter fibers tracked by the tri-linear interpolation algorithm were significantly longer. The tracking images of the fibers indicated that this method can obtain smoother tracked fibers, more obvious orientation and clearer details. Tracking fiber abnormalities are in good agreement with the actual condition of patients, and tracking displayed fibers that passed though the corpus callosum, which was consistent with the anatomical structures of the brain. Therefore, the tri-linear interpolation algorithm can achieve a clear, anatomically correct and reliable tracking result.