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A structural magnetic resonance imaging study in therapy-naïve transsexual individuals
, 2, 3, 1
Affiliations- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty for Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Organisational Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia
open access
Abstract
Background: Transsexuality is explained and defined as a gender-identity disorder, characterised by very strong conviction of belonging to the opposite sex and has been associated with a distinct neuroanatomical pattern. Materials and methods: We performed a structural analysis in search of possible differences in grey matter structures based on magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of 26 individuals between 19 and 38 years of age. The participants were divided into two groups of 15 controls and 11 transgender individuals. The segmentation of subcortical grey matter was performed using FIRST model a model-based segmentation/registration tool, from FSL software package. Results: The results showed that the volume of the brain region called nucleus accumbens on the left side was significantly smaller in the group of transgender individuals compared to the control. It was the most important parameter which was shown to make distinction between two examined groups. Conclusions: The results also showed decreased volumes of the left thalamus, right hippocampus and right caudate nucleus.
Abstract
Background: Transsexuality is explained and defined as a gender-identity disorder, characterised by very strong conviction of belonging to the opposite sex and has been associated with a distinct neuroanatomical pattern. Materials and methods: We performed a structural analysis in search of possible differences in grey matter structures based on magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of 26 individuals between 19 and 38 years of age. The participants were divided into two groups of 15 controls and 11 transgender individuals. The segmentation of subcortical grey matter was performed using FIRST model a model-based segmentation/registration tool, from FSL software package. Results: The results showed that the volume of the brain region called nucleus accumbens on the left side was significantly smaller in the group of transgender individuals compared to the control. It was the most important parameter which was shown to make distinction between two examined groups. Conclusions: The results also showed decreased volumes of the left thalamus, right hippocampus and right caudate nucleus.
Keywords
transsexuals, magnetic resonance imaging, FSL, subcortical brain structures
About this articleTitle
A structural magnetic resonance imaging study in therapy-naïve transsexual individuals
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
442-447
Published online
2020-07-08
Page views
1905
Article views/downloads
1505
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2021;80(2):442-447.
Keywords
transsexuals
magnetic resonance imaging
FSL
subcortical brain structures
Authors
A. Starcevic
M. Dakovic
Z. Radojicic
B. Filipovic
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