Vol 69, No 4 (2010)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2010-12-01
The volume fraction of brain ventricles to total brain volume: a computed tomography stereological study
I. Akdogan, Y. Kiroglu, S. Onur, N. Karabulut
Folia Morphol 2010;69(4):193-200.
Vol 69, No 4 (2010)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2010-12-01
Abstract
This study has been designed to estimate the volume fraction of the brain
ventricles volume to total brain volume and to correlate them with gender and
age in normal subjects. Cranial computed tomography (CT) images of 80 normally
evaluated subjects (five female and five male for each decade) were selected
from 1,073 CT examinations. The volumes of total brain, cerebral aqueduct,
fourth, third, and lateral ventricles and their ratios were estimated using
the Cavalieri method and volume fraction-stereological methods. The ratio of
total brain ventricle volume to total brain volume was comparable between
the two genders (p > 0.05, independent t test). Mean volume fraction of total
ventricle volume to total brain volume was found to be 1.21% in the first and
3.37% in the last decades. Mean volume fraction was found to increase significantly
with age (p < 0.01, r = 0.630, Pearson). In conclusion, the mean percentage
of total ventricle volume within the total brain volume was found to
be 2%. We demonstrated the volume fraction of total ventricle to total brain in
normal subjects. Total ventricle volume to total brain volume fractions can be
important tools in determining ventricle volumes, which denote variability in some
diseases (Alzheimer, schizophrenia, neurodegenerative disorders, etc.) and can
be estimated by stereological methods. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 4: 193-200)
Abstract
This study has been designed to estimate the volume fraction of the brain
ventricles volume to total brain volume and to correlate them with gender and
age in normal subjects. Cranial computed tomography (CT) images of 80 normally
evaluated subjects (five female and five male for each decade) were selected
from 1,073 CT examinations. The volumes of total brain, cerebral aqueduct,
fourth, third, and lateral ventricles and their ratios were estimated using
the Cavalieri method and volume fraction-stereological methods. The ratio of
total brain ventricle volume to total brain volume was comparable between
the two genders (p > 0.05, independent t test). Mean volume fraction of total
ventricle volume to total brain volume was found to be 1.21% in the first and
3.37% in the last decades. Mean volume fraction was found to increase significantly
with age (p < 0.01, r = 0.630, Pearson). In conclusion, the mean percentage
of total ventricle volume within the total brain volume was found to
be 2%. We demonstrated the volume fraction of total ventricle to total brain in
normal subjects. Total ventricle volume to total brain volume fractions can be
important tools in determining ventricle volumes, which denote variability in some
diseases (Alzheimer, schizophrenia, neurodegenerative disorders, etc.) and can
be estimated by stereological methods. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 4: 193-200)
Keywords
brain ventricles; brain volume; Cavalieri method; volume fraction; stereology
Title
The volume fraction of brain ventricles to total brain volume: a computed tomography stereological study
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 69, No 4 (2010)
Article type
Original article
Pages
193-200
Published online
2010-12-01
Page views
762
Article views/downloads
3422
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2010;69(4):193-200.
Keywords
brain ventricles
brain volume
Cavalieri method
volume fraction
stereology
Authors
I. Akdogan
Y. Kiroglu
S. Onur
N. Karabulut