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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on January 15, 2009
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1417

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 30:520-524, March 2009
© 2009 American Society of Neuroradiology

BRAIN

Topographic Analysis of the Inferior Parietal Lobule in High-Resolution 3D MR Imaging

I. Kiriyama^a, H. Miki^a, K. Kikuchi^a, S. Ohue^b, S. Matsuda^c and T. Mochizuki^a

^a Department of Radiology; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
^b Department of Neurosurgery; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
^c Departments of Anatomy and Embryology; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan

Please address correspondence to Ikuko Kiriyama, Department of Radiology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon-City, Ehime, 791-0295 Japan; e-mail: ikukosan{at}m.ehime-u.ac.jp

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent functional MR imaging studies have revealed that the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) supports numerous functions; however, the precise organization of the IPL remains unclear. It has been previously reported that the individual components of the IPL show variable morphologic features; thus, any investigations of IPL function must take into account the variable topography of the IPL. However, it is difficult to understand the topography of the IPL only in transaxial and/or sagittal MR images. We generated volume rendering (VR) images of the brain from high-resolution 3D MR imaging data and analyzed the topography of the IPL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers were examined with 1.5T MR imaging, and VR images were generated. Sulcal continuity, sulcal connections, and the gyral pattern of the IPL were investigated.

RESULTS: The main sulci and gyri were able to be identified excellently on VR images of all volunteers. One long, continuous postcentral sulcus (postCS) was seen in 47.5% and 40% in the right and left hemisphere, respectively. The frequency with which the postCS connected with the anterior end of the IPS was 72.5% and 75% in the right and left, respectively. The gyral pattern of the IPL showed variable morphology.

CONCLUSIONS: VR images can depict the sulcal continuity and connections of the IPL accurately. VR imaging is a very useful noninvasive technique to observe the topography of the IPL and should contribute to the investigation of functional localization.