Choroid plexus: normal size criteria on neuroimaging

Abstract

The lack of a well-recognized normal size criterion for the choroid plexus makes small or diffuse choroid plexus pathologies difficult to recognize. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal size of the choroid plexus in the pediatric population utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and ultrasound (US). As volume measurement across multiple slices is a laborious process, we wanted to propose a simple clinical tool that is easy to use, reproducible, and quick to obtain measurements. This study retrospectively evaluated choroid plexus size in 90 children between the ages of 0 and 16. To determine the choroid plexus thickness, a total of 97 studies (71 MRIs and 26 Ultrasounds) were reviewed, from children without any signs of choroid plexus pathology; 6 measurements were taken from MR studies, and 3 measurements were taken from US studies. Averages and ranges of choroid plexus thickness were computed across age groups and gender. Across all ages, the mean choroid plexus thickness in the lateral ventricles was found to be 3.4, 3.3, and 3.1mm in the axial, coronal, and sagittal views; 3.2mm in the temporal horns; 2.5mm in the fourth ventricle with the lateral limb of the choroid plexus in the fourth ventricle measuring 11.3mm in length. No trends were observed with respect to age subgroups or gender. Choroid plexus thickness on average was 3.2mm in the lateral ventricles and 2.5mm in the fourth ventricle.