Thesis Project Form
Title (tentative): 3D segmentation of neonatal/pediatric MRI images| Thesis advisor(s): Boccacci Patrizia, Benedetta Toselli (Dibris) | E-mail: |
| Address: Via Dodecaneso, 35 16146 Genova - ITALY Valletta Puggia - 332 | Phone: (+39) 010 353 6732 |
Description
Motivation and application domain
Malformations of cortical development (MCDs) are increasingly recognized as an
important cause of epilepsy and developmental delay in children.New strategies have recently been proposed to in-vivo study the human brain
pathways, from a structural and functional point of view. The correlation between
MCD and alterations of brain connectivity in pediatric patients constitutes an
unexplored field of research.
important cause of epilepsy and developmental delay in children.New strategies have recently been proposed to in-vivo study the human brain
pathways, from a structural and functional point of view. The correlation between
MCD and alterations of brain connectivity in pediatric patients constitutes an
unexplored field of research.
General objectives and main activities
New strategies have recently been proposed to in-vivo study the human brain
pathways, from a structural and functional point of view. The structural connectome is a comprehensive structural description of the network of cortical elements and physical connections forming the brain, which uses graph theory to abstractly define the brain as a set of anatomical regions, the so-called nodes, and structural connections, the so-called interconnecting edges. Connectome analysis requires a precise segmentation of the brain structures and tissues, in order to correctly and automatically label the nodes topologically and
functionally.
pathways, from a structural and functional point of view. The structural connectome is a comprehensive structural description of the network of cortical elements and physical connections forming the brain, which uses graph theory to abstractly define the brain as a set of anatomical regions, the so-called nodes, and structural connections, the so-called interconnecting edges. Connectome analysis requires a precise segmentation of the brain structures and tissues, in order to correctly and automatically label the nodes topologically and
functionally.
Training Objectives (technical/analytical tools, experimental methodologies)
The incomplete white matter
myelination in neonates and children below 2 years of age and the cortical and gyral
distortions due to MCD make the segmentation techniques commonly employed for
adults (i.e. atlas-based) unreliable. Hence, the second objective is to develop a fully
automated strategy for the accurate segmentation of the gray and white matter in
children with MCD below 2 years of age.
myelination in neonates and children below 2 years of age and the cortical and gyral
distortions due to MCD make the segmentation techniques commonly employed for
adults (i.e. atlas-based) unreliable. Hence, the second objective is to develop a fully
automated strategy for the accurate segmentation of the gray and white matter in
children with MCD below 2 years of age.
Place(s) where the thesis work will be carried out: DIBRIS
Additional information
Maximum number of students: 1