Relationship between manual versus automatic MRI-based iron quantification and clinical disability

Abstract— Iron is an important component for normal brain functioning. However, increased deposition with respect to healthy controls has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders and subsequent disability. Recent magnetic resonance imaging acquisition and post-processing techniques have allowed for the quantification of brain iron levels. Both manual and automated methodologies have been proposed. In this study, use high-pass filtered susceptibility weighted phase images to assess the relationship between increased iron deposition in deep gray matter structures and disability in multiple sclerosis. We compare the results between a manual and automated method.