Globus tracing guidelines using Slicer
K. Jones
1. Start Slicer and load the T1 / T2 images.
2. Load the Putamen labels as a boundary guide.
3. Select Edit and choose the Draw Tool.
Globus Pallidus structural boundaries:
Globus pallidus boundaries are based on the paper Globus Pallidus Tracing Guidelines by J. Ward, et al. The Anterior
Commissure is used as the starting point for the inferior boundary. For symmetrical AC’s – use the row of pixels
immediately above the lowest row making up the AC tissue. For asymmetrical AC’s – use the lowest row of pixels on
the highest side of the AC. See the original document for a more detailed explanation.
Start tracing the globus at the clearest view of the AC. At this point in the anterior portion of the Basal ganglia, the GP
is a triangular shaped bounded by the internal capsule, AC and Putamen. Continue tracing anteriorly until the GP is no
longer visible. Approximately 6-8 slices.
Return to the clearest view of the AC and trace posteriorly following the varying shape of the GP until it is no longer
visible. It will become smaller and flattened against the putamen as it ends posteriorly. While the internal capsule and
putamen remain the GP's superior, medial and lateral boundaries, the inferior boundary becomes the amygdala
followed by the choroid plexus in the posterior portion of the basal ganglia.
Use the axial and sagital views to refine the boundaries of the GP. (See figure 1.)
The axial view - the globus will curve against the medial boundary of the putamen bordered by the internal capsule
and in the mid-section of the brain, the AC.
The sagital view - the globus is a spherical shape, adjacent and posterior to the putamen.
When all views have been traced and compared. Save the label.
Figure 1. Slicer view of traced globus pallidus label (blue line) and putamen label (orange shading). The coronal view
is shown at the Anterior Commissure where tracing begins.
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The following images show the development of the globus pallidus in the coronal view:
Figure 2. Coronal view of putamen before globus pallidus comes into view.
Figure 3. Coronal image of globus pallidus at AC region.
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Figure 4. Coronal view of globus pallidus as it continues posteriorly and nears the amygdala.
Figure 5. Coronal view of the globus pallidus adjacent and superior to the amygdala.
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Figure 6. Coronal view of the globus pallidus superior to the choroid plexus.
Figure 7. Coronal view of the remaining putamen structure after the globus pallidus recedes from
view.
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Resources:
Globus Pallidus Tracing Guidelines - J. Ward, R. Fuller, D. Eccher, K. Cretsinger
Atlas of the Human Brain – Lothar Jennes, Harold H. Traurig, and P. Michael Conn
Wikipedia – Globus Pallidus
http://da.biostr.washington.edu/
The Human Brain Surface, Three-Dimensional Sectional Anatomy and MRI – Duvernoy
Structure of the Human Brain – DeArmond (only source that said Globus was below AC)
Color Enhancement of Multispectral MR Images: Improving the Visualization of Subcortical Structures – Ward et al
(and Globus Pallidus Tracing Guidelines – Ward)
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