Ventricles of brain: A morphometric study by computerized tomography

Abstract

Introduction: As the human brain ages, characteristic structural changes occur that are considered to be normal and are expected. Thus the thorough knowledge of the age related normal changes that occur in the brain is required before any abnormal findings are analyzed. As ageing advances, the brain undergoes many gross and histopathological changes with regression of the brain tissue leading to the enlargement of the ventricles. To understand these changes the knowledge of normal morphometry and size of normal ventricular system of brain is important. Materials & Methods: For the present study 358 (Males - 207 and Females - 151) individuals Computerized Tomography (CT) images of brain studied. Measurements of fourth ventricle, third ventricle and lateral ventricle were noted down from CT images and it was statistically analyzed. Results: After analysis it was observed that the height and width of the fourth ventricle was larger in males as compared to females. The length of the third ventricle was observed to be greater in females than in males. The width of the third ventricle it was observed to be greater in males than in females. Antero-posterior extent of the left frontal horn (males = 26.26 ± 2.94, 95% CI 25.86 - 26.66 mm and females = 26.53 ± 3.38, 95% CI 25.99 - 27.08 mm) was greater than that of the right ones (males = 25.00 ± 3.18, 95% CI 24.57 - 25.44 mm and females = 25.34 ± 3.50, 95% CI 24.78 - 25.90 mm). Conclusion: Advances in sensitive imaging techniques like the Computerized Tomography helps in dramatic expansion of our understanding of the normal structure of brain. The present study has defined the morphometric measurements of the lateral ventricles, third ventricle, and fourth ventricle of the brain which has clinical correlations in diagnosis and for further line of treatment.