qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus

Abstract Background and purpose Disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH) is a radiological biomarker for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). DESH is a subjective measure, based on visual assessments, which may limit its reliability. The aim of this study was t...

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Main Authors: Sofia Behndig, Afroditi Lalou, Jan Axelsson, Jenny Larsson, Anders Wåhlin, Pavel Ryska, Ondrej Slezak, Katrine Riklund, Jan Zizka, Jan Malm, Anders Eklund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Fluids and Barriers of the CNS
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00677-2
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author Sofia Behndig
Afroditi Lalou
Jan Axelsson
Jenny Larsson
Anders Wåhlin
Pavel Ryska
Ondrej Slezak
Katrine Riklund
Jan Zizka
Jan Malm
Anders Eklund
author_facet Sofia Behndig
Afroditi Lalou
Jan Axelsson
Jenny Larsson
Anders Wåhlin
Pavel Ryska
Ondrej Slezak
Katrine Riklund
Jan Zizka
Jan Malm
Anders Eklund
author_sort Sofia Behndig
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background and purpose Disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH) is a radiological biomarker for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). DESH is a subjective measure, based on visual assessments, which may limit its reliability. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the objective quantification of DESH. Materials and methods By using a semiautomatic quantitative method, we calculated quantitative DESH (qDESH), defined as a ratio between CSF volumes at high convexities and Sylvian fissures. The analysis was based on three-dimensional T1-weighted images from 35 subjects with iNPH (mean age 74 yrs; 10 females) and 45 controls (mean age 72 yrs; 13 females). The interrater agreement for qDESH was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient, and qDESH was compared with visual assessments performed by two neuroradiologists. Results All subjects with iNPH and 13% of the controls visually scored DESH positive. The median qDESH was 2.48 (5th to 95th percentile 0.88 to 5.42) for iNPH and 0.63 (5th to 95th percentile 0.37 to 1.73) for the controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for qDESH was 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.90–1) in separating iNPH patients from controls. The interrater agreement for qDESH was 0.99 (95% CI 0.986–0.994, p < 0.001). Conclusion Unlike visual DESH, qDESH generates a continuous variable, enabling reproducible quantification of DESH severity. With this method we can objectively investigate the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic assessment of DESH in iNPH.
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spelling doaj-art-f4f0eebb225e4facb724305e178f16352025-08-20T04:01:36ZengBMCFluids and Barriers of the CNS2045-81182025-07-0122111110.1186/s12987-025-00677-2qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalusSofia Behndig0Afroditi Lalou1Jan Axelsson2Jenny Larsson3Anders Wåhlin4Pavel Ryska5Ondrej Slezak6Katrine Riklund7Jan Zizka8Jan Malm9Anders Eklund10Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Hradec KraloveDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Hradec KraloveUmeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå UniversityDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Diagnostic Radiology, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics, Umeå UniversityAbstract Background and purpose Disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH) is a radiological biomarker for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). DESH is a subjective measure, based on visual assessments, which may limit its reliability. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the objective quantification of DESH. Materials and methods By using a semiautomatic quantitative method, we calculated quantitative DESH (qDESH), defined as a ratio between CSF volumes at high convexities and Sylvian fissures. The analysis was based on three-dimensional T1-weighted images from 35 subjects with iNPH (mean age 74 yrs; 10 females) and 45 controls (mean age 72 yrs; 13 females). The interrater agreement for qDESH was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient, and qDESH was compared with visual assessments performed by two neuroradiologists. Results All subjects with iNPH and 13% of the controls visually scored DESH positive. The median qDESH was 2.48 (5th to 95th percentile 0.88 to 5.42) for iNPH and 0.63 (5th to 95th percentile 0.37 to 1.73) for the controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for qDESH was 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.90–1) in separating iNPH patients from controls. The interrater agreement for qDESH was 0.99 (95% CI 0.986–0.994, p < 0.001). Conclusion Unlike visual DESH, qDESH generates a continuous variable, enabling reproducible quantification of DESH severity. With this method we can objectively investigate the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic assessment of DESH in iNPH.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00677-2
spellingShingle Sofia Behndig
Afroditi Lalou
Jan Axelsson
Jenny Larsson
Anders Wåhlin
Pavel Ryska
Ondrej Slezak
Katrine Riklund
Jan Zizka
Jan Malm
Anders Eklund
qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
Fluids and Barriers of the CNS
title qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
title_full qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
title_fullStr qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
title_full_unstemmed qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
title_short qDESH: a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
title_sort qdesh a method to quantify disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00677-2
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