ReMIND Database: A Game-Changer for Brain Tumor Research
Published on Thu Sep 14 2023
Brain tumor MRI scans | Nathanael Burton on FlickrA newly curated database called ReMIND (The Brain Resection Multimodal Imaging Database) is offering researchers a valuable resource for studying brain tumors. The standard of care for brain tumors is surgical resection, and neuronavigation has been used as a surgical adjunct to improve accuracy. However, as surgery progresses, brain shift can occur, affecting the validity of neuronavigation. Intraoperative imaging, such as MRI and ultrasound, can help address this issue.
Intraoperative MRI (iMRI) provides high-contrast images but can take significant time to acquire. On the other hand, intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) provides relatively lower-contrast images but can be acquired within minutes. The ReMIND database offers a collection of preoperative MRI series, 3D intraoperative ultrasound series, intraoperative MRI series, and segmentations obtained from 114 consecutive patients who underwent image-guided resection at a single institution. This database represents the largest publicly-available collection of its kind.
Researchers are increasingly interested in using AI/ML algorithms for medical image analysis, but data scarcity is a significant challenge. The ReMIND database aims to bridge this gap by providing well-curated data for computational research in brain shift and image analysis, as well as neurosurgical training in interpreting intraoperative ultrasound and iMRI. It includes cases of gliomas, metastases, and other non-glioma pathologies, allowing for a broad range of research possibilities.
To access the imaging data in the ReMIND database, researchers are recommended to use the free and open-source platform 3D Slicer, which supports the DICOM format. Additionally, a custom 3D Slicer extension called MRUSLandmarking is available for creating landmarks on images. The database also provides code availability and scripts for processing the data.
The ReMIND database builds upon the efforts of other databases like BITE and RESECT, expanding the available resources for brain tumor research. With its comprehensive collection of multimodal imaging data, ReMIND holds great promise for advancing our understanding of brain tumors and improving surgical outcomes.
