Automated Quantification of White Matter Hyperintensity Burden Using MPRAGE and FLAIR Images from a Large Population

Keith Hulsey¹, Roderick McColl¹

A fully automated algorithm has been developed and tested for quantifying White Matter Hyperintensity burden in a large population. The algorithm utilizes MPRAGE and FLAIR images acquired on a 3T scanner. No human review of images is required in the image processing chain or in the estimation of the WMH burden. Correlations of the WMH burden estimate with known risk factors have produced expected results. The correlation of age with risk factors has been taken into account when evaluating the correlation of WMH burden with the risk factors by adjusting the WMH burden estimate for age.