Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about the temporospatial shape characteristics of human lateral ventricles (LVs) during the first two years of life. This study aimed to delineate the morphological growth characteristics of LVs during early infancy using longitudinally acquired MR images in normal healthy infants.Methods24 healthy infants were MR imaged starting from 2 weeks old every 3 months during the first and every 6 months during the second year. Bilateral LVs were segmented and longitudinal morphological and shape analysis were conducted using longitudinal mixed effect models.ResultsA significant bilateral ventricular volume increase (p<0.0001) is observed in year one (Left: 126±51% and Right: 145±62%), followed by a significant reduction (p<0.02) during the second year of life (Left: −24±27% and Right: −20±18%) despite the continuing increase of intracranial volume. Morphological analysis reveals that the ventricular growth is spatially non-uniform, and that the most significant growth occurs during the first 6 months. The first 3 months of life exhibit a significant (p<0.01) bilateral lengthening of the anterior lateral ventricle and a significant increase of radius (p<0.01) and area (p<0.01) at the posterior portion of the ventricle. Shape analysis shows that the horns exhibit a faster growth rate than the mid-body. Finally, bilateral significant age effects (p<0.01) are observed for the growth of LVs whereas gender effects are more subtle and significant effects (p<0.01) only present at the left anterior and posterior horns. More importantly, both the age and gender effects are growth directionally dependent.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the temporospatial shape growth characteristics of human LVs during the first two years of life using a unique longitudinal MR data set. A temporally and spatially non-uniform growth pattern was reported. These normative results could provide invaluable information to discern abnormal growth patterns in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Highlights
The human brain undergoes highly dynamic growth during the first few years of life [1], reaching 80 to 90% of the adult brain size by age 2 [2], and 95% by age 6 [3]
Brain development during the first few years of life is of critical importance; abnormal growth and/or injury during this critical period can have profound implications on long-term neurological and cognitive development
Abnormal growth of the head size resulting from atypical increased gray and white matter volumes [4] during early infancy have been linked to autism [4,5,6]
Summary
The human brain undergoes highly dynamic growth during the first few years of life [1], reaching 80 to 90% of the adult brain size by age 2 [2], and 95% by age 6 [3]. Despite the potential clinical significance of understanding ventricular growth during early infancy, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies providing detailed insights into temporal and spatial development of human lateral ventricles during the first two years of life. Gilmore et al [18,19] reported that the left is larger than the right ventricle at birth and this asymmetry persists at 6 months of life [20] Both Knickmey et al [1] and Lyall et al [21] et al reported a marked increase in ventricular volumes during the first year, followed by a reduction in the second year of life. This study aimed to delineate the morphological growth characteristics of LVs during early infancy using longitudinally acquired MR images in normal healthy infants
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