Corpus Callosal Morphometry in Mid-sagittal Plane MRI in Patients of Different Age Groups: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Corpus callosum is the largest and most important of the forebrain commissural tracts connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. This white matter tract plays essential role in sensory, motor, and cognitive signal transmission across the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Hence, corpus callosal thickness and morphology reflects the hemispheric volume and functional ability of the brain. Thinning of corpus callosum which can be due to abnormal or absent myelination, demyelinating conditions, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and metabolic diseases affecting the white matter can lead to developmental impairment and behavioural disorders which need to be properly evaluated. Aim: To identify possible age-associated variability in the anteroposterior diameter and the thickness of different parts of the corpus callosum. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 420 patients over a period of two years from January 2019 to December 2020 done at Dr. PSIMS and RF, Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh. Magnetic Resonance (MR) examinations were performed with 1.5T Philips Healthcare Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. The subjects who underwent MRI for various suspected or known central nervous system diseases were included in the study. The thickness of various parts along with the anteroposterior diameter of the corpus callosum were measured with mid-sagittal T1 weighted MR sequence and the mean and standard deviation was calculated. Results: The anteroposterior diameter of the corpus callosum was more in older adults (61-70 age group) than in children and younger adults. The mean thickness of genu, body and isthmus was found to be significantly more in younger adults (21-30 age group), whereas thickness of splenium was more significant in the age group of 31-40 years. Conclusion: The anteroposterior diameter was more in the elderly age group, whereas the thickness of corpus callosal regions was more in the young adult age group. Therefore, variations in corpus callosal thickness would help in the diagnosis of disease presence and progression.