Comparison of Measurements of Corpus Callosum in Formalin Fixed Brain and in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan

Abstract

Introduction: Corpus callosum is the collection of white fibres situated in the longitudinal fissure of brain connecting the two halves of the brain. Different methodologies may yield different results in the measurement of diameters of corpus callosum. Aim: To find out any difference in corpus callosum diameters when these diameters were measured in formalin fixed brain specimens and in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India from April 2014 to March 2019. A total of 107 formalin fixed cadaveric brain specimens were used to measure length, height and thickness of corpus callosum and MRI scans of 43 patients were used to measure the same diameters. The mean value of all the diameters of corpus callosum measured in formalin fixed brain specimens and in MRI scans were compared. Statistical significance was calculated with student’s t-test and p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total data collected from 107 brain specimens (66 were males and 41 were females) and MRI scans of 43 subjects (30 were males and 13 were females), all in age range of 10- 70 years, were analysed. Mean values of length, height, mid- body, rostrum and splenium thickness of corpus callosum in cadaveric brain specimens were recorded 70.85 mm, 23.37 mm, 5.46 mm, 5.91 mm and 8.40 mm, respectively and same diameters in MRI scans were 74.61 mm, 25.85 mm, 5.84 mm, 6.68mm, 10.46 mm, respectively. Difference of these diameters of corpus callosum measured in cadaveric brain specimens and in MRI scans was statistically significant with p-value=0.0001 for length, 0.0006 for height and 0.0001 for thickness. Conclusion: Significant difference was observed when the same diameters of corpus callosum were measured in MRI and in formalin fixed cadaveric brain specimens.