Journal Article

DZNE-2026-01099

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Harmonized Protocol for Segmentation of the Hippocampal Tail on High-Resolution In Vivo MRI From the Hippocampal Subfields Group (HSG).

de Flores, R. ; Canada, K. L. ; Brown, T. ; Gervais, N. J. ; Maass, A.DZNE* ; Rådman, G. ; Shine, J.DZNE* ; Tucker, H. L. ; Molloy, E. N.DZNE* ; Adams, J. N. ; Reinke, M. B. ; Bakker, A. ; Berron, D.DZNE* ; Dalton, M. A. ; Kennedy, K. M. ; LaJoie, R. ; Mueller, S. G. ; Ofen, N. ; Olsen, R. K. ; Raz, N. ; Riggins, T. ; Rodrigue, K. M. ; Stark, C. ; Wang, L. ; Wisse, L. E. M. ; Yushkevich, P. A. ; Carr, V. A. ; Daugherty, A. M. ; Initiative, A. D. N. (Collaboration Author) ; Group, H. S. (Collaboration Author)

2026
Wiley New York, NY [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1002/hipo.70143

Abstract: The hippocampus is a heterogeneous structure with cytoarchitectonically distinct subfields that exhibit heterogeneous lifespan trajectories and are differentially susceptible to diseases. Advances in high-resolution imaging have accelerated research on these structures, yet variability in segmentation protocols limits cross-study comparability. The Hippocampal Subfields Group (HSG) is an international consortium addressing this challenge by developing a reliable, accessible, and freely available segmentation protocol for high-resolution T2-weighted 3T MRI scans (http://www.hippocampalsubfields.com). Here, we present the harmonized protocol for the posterior portion of the hippocampus (the 'tail'), complementing the previously established 'body' protocol, and with an anterior 'head' protocol under development. The tail protocol provides standardized definitions of the external boundaries for the posterior-most extent of the hippocampus, facilitating consistent segmentation from surrounding tissues. The research community was extensively involved through an online survey that incorporated comprehensive protocol details, feasibility assessments, tutorial videos, and illustrative segmentations. Through this collaborative process, consensus emerged to exclude subfield labeling in the hippocampal tail due to limited visibility of internal landmarks and substantial anatomical variability in this region. All proposed boundary guidelines were deemed clear and agreed upon via a Delphi procedure. The harmonized tail protocol has high intra- (Averaged ICC(2, 1) > 0.98; Averaged Dice Similarity Coefficient = 0.92) and inter-rater reliability (Averaged ICC(2, k) > 0.98; Averaged Dice Similarity Coefficient = 0.86) and offers a practical framework for replicable segmentation. By establishing standardized guidelines, this protocol enhances comparability of findings across developmental, aging, and clinical research and is compatible with ongoing technological advances.

Keyword(s): Hippocampus: anatomy & histology (MeSH) ; Hippocampus: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging: methods (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted: methods (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; MRI ; hippocampus ; protocol ; segmentation ; tail

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Multimodal Neuroimaging (AG Maaß)
2. Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience (AG Berron)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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