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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 24:644-647, April 2003
© 2003 American Society of Neuroradiology

BRAIN

MR Imaging Volumetry of Subcortical Structures and Cerebellar Hemispheres in Normal Persons

C. Ákos Szabó^a, Jack L. Lancaster^b, Jinhu Xiong^b, Christopher Cook^b and Peter Fox^a,b

^a Division of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
^b Research Imaging Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

Address reprint requests to C. Ákos Szabó, MD, Division of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Volume changes in subcortical structures and cerebella have been associated with localization-related epilepsy and psychiatric illnesses. This study evaluated the effect of handedness and sex on the volumes of selected subcortical structures and cerebellar hemispheres in normal persons.

METHODS: Volumetric measurements were performed of the caudate heads, thalami, and cerebellar hemispheres in 34 (20 right- and 14 left-handed, 19 female and 15 male) normal persons. Amygdalar and hippocampal volumes were reported previously for these persons. All study participants completed a 10-item handedness questionnaire. The MR imaging sequence was a 3D T1-weighted gradient-echo acquisition of the whole brain (24/6 [TR/TE]; flip angle, 25 degrees). MR images were spatially normalized, and volumes were painted with a 1.0 mm³ resolution cursor on an SGI workstation. The effects of handedness and sex on standardized volumes and right-to-left volume ratios were calculated, and volumes were compared between right and left sides for each structure.

RESULTS: Handedness did not affect standardized volumes or asymmetries of the caudate heads, thalami, or cerebellar hemispheres. The volumes of subcortical structures were bilaterally larger in women than in men. Right-to-left asymmetries were significant for the caudate head and cerebellum but not for the thalamus.

CONCLUSION: These findings show that women have significantly larger subcortical structures than do men after spatial normalization to account for differences in brain size. Sex-specific normal ranges may be needed for evaluating volume changes related to epilepsy or other disease processes.

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