Comparing tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and manual labeling as diffusion analysis methods to detect white matter abnormalities

FA values from manual ROI and TBSS were strongly correlated (r = 0.94, P < 0.0001). Both methods found decreased FA in most ROIs for HIE infants. There was no significant interaction between method and group, indicating a similar ability to detect FA differences (F(1,19) = 0.599, P = 0.449). Sensitivity (manual: 0.709, TBSS: 0.694, 95% CI [–0.136, 0.163], P = 0.856), specificity (manual and TBSS: 0.716, 95% CI [–0.133, 0.133], P = 1), and standard error (manual: 0.009, TBSS: 0.007) were comparable.