Independent and reproducible hippocampal radiomics biomarkers for multisite multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the abnormal radiomics features of the hippocampus in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and to explore the clinical implications of these features.

Methods: 752 participants were recruited in this retrospective multicenter study (7 centers), which included 236 MS, 236 NMOSD, and 280 normal controls (NC). Radiomics features of each side of the hippocampus were extracted, including intensity, shape, texture, and wavelet features (N = 431). To identify the variations in these features, two-sample t-tests were performed between the NMOSD vs. NC, MS vs. NC, and NMOSD vs. MS groups at each site. The statistical results from each site were then integrated through meta-analysis. To investigate the clinical significance of the hippocampal radiomics features, we conducted further analysis to examine the correlations between these features and clinical measures such as Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT).

Results: Compared with NC, patients with MS exhibited significant differences in 78 radiomics features (P < 0.05/862), with the majority of these being texture features. Patients with NMOSD showed significant differences in 137 radiomics features (P < 0.05/862), most of which were intensity features. The difference between MS and NMOSD patients was observed in 47 radiomics features (P < 0.05/862), mainly texture features. In patients with MS and NMOSD, the most significant features related to the EDSS were intensity and textural features, and the most significant features related to the PASAT were intensity features. Meanwhile, both disease groups observed a weak correlation between radiomics data and BVMT.

Conclusion: Variations in the microstructure of the hippocampus can be detected through radiomics, offering a new approach to investigating the abnormal pattern of the hippocampus in MS and NMOSD.

Keywords: Hippocampal radiomics features; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.