Biometry of the corpus callosum in children: MR imaging reference data

Abstract

Background and purpose: The availability of data relating to the biometry of the CC in children that are easy to use in daily practice is limited. We present a reference biometry of the CC in MR imaging in a large cohort of children.

Materials and methods: Cerebral MR imaging studies of children with normal examination findings were selected retrospectively. Children born preterm and those with or at risk of developing cerebral malformations were excluded. The following parameters were measured: FOD, APD, LCC, GT, BT, IT, ST, and the S/T. Inter- and intraobserver agreement and sex effect were evaluated.

Results: Six hundred twenty-two children were included (320 boys, 302 girls), ranging from 1 day to 15 years of age. Normal values (from the 3rd to 97th percentile) are provided for each parameter. All parameters showed rapid growth up to 3 years of age followed by slower (FOD, APD, LCC, GT and ST) or absent (S/T) growth. Growth of BT and IT was completed by 7-8 years. CC modeling (IT/ST) was completed by 3 years. FOD was larger in boys from the age of 1 year (statistically significant). The other parameters did not show any sex effect. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was excellent for all parameters except for IT.

Conclusions: As measured, our data result in easy and reproducible MR imaging biometry of the CC in children.

Fig 1.

Description of the different biometric parameters measured with MR imaging. A, Measurement of the APD of the CC, the distance between the anterior aspect of the genu and the posterior aspect of the splenium. B, Measurement of the true LCC, the curvilinear distance between the rostrum and the splenium at midthickness of the CC. C, Measurement of the thickness of the CC, at the level of the genu (GT), body (BT), isthmus (IT), and splenium (ST). D, measurement of the IT when the isthmus could not be identified because of insufficient CC modeling. IT was measured at the level where the fornix abuts the CC (CC-fornix junction). E, Measurement of the FOD, the distance between the extreme points of the frontal and occipital lobes. F, Evaluation of the position of the splenium. A line was drawn along the dorsal surface of the brain stem. Another line was drawn parallel to the first one and passing at the level of the most posterior point of the splenium. The S/T distance between those lines was measured at the level of the fastigium.

Fig 2.

Reference intervals (3rd, 50th, 97th) for the different parameters: A = APD; B = LCC; C = GT; D = BT; E = IT; F = ST; G = FOD for males; H = FOD for females; I = S/T; J = IT/ST; and K= ADP/FOD.

Fig 3.

Loess smoothing curves of the different parameters depending on age (years) and sex. A = APD; B = LCC; C = GT; D = BT; E = IT; F = ST; G = FOD; H = S/T; I = IT/ST; J = ADP/FOD..