A novel technique for olfactory bulb measurements

BACKGROUND: To introduce new ways to calculate OB volumes, checking their validity and comparing them to already established technique i.e. OB volumetric based on manual segmentation of OB boundaries. METHODS: Two approaches were used to calculate OB volumes (1) Manual Segmentation using planimetric manual contouring; (2) Box-frame method, calculating the parameters based on a box placed around the OB. RESULTS: We calculated OB volumes using both techniques and found comparable outcomes. High inter-observer reliability was found for volumes calculated by both observers. For manual segmentation, Cronbach’s alpha (α) was 0.91 and 0.93 for right and left OB volume, respectively, whereas for the box-frame method α was 0.94 and 0.90 for right and left OB, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The simple box-frame method of OB volume calculation appears reliable. Its results are comparable to an established technique.