A volumetric MRI study of the entorhinal cortex in first episode neuroleptic-naive schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Imaging studies have frequently reported volume loss of limbic structures in schizophrenia, yet there appears to be no quantitative data on entorhinal cortex volumes in patients with neuroleptic naive first-episode schizophrenia.


METHODS
The volume of the entorhinal cortices of 22 control subjects and 18 patients with neuroleptic-naïve first-episode schizophrenia were measured from magnetic resonance images (MRI) scans using recently designed anatomic criteria for MRI anatomy of the entorhinal cortex.


RESULTS
Smaller entorhinal volumes were found bilaterally in the schizophrenic patients. This volume loss did not correlate with items on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest early involvement of the entorhinal cortex in schizophrenia.
Joyal
Christian C
CC
Institut Philippe Pinel de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Laakso
Mikko P
MP
Tiihonen
Jari
J
Syvälahti
Erkka
E
Vilkman
Harry
H
Laakso
Aki
A
Alakare
Birgitta
B
Räkköläinen
Viljo
V
Salokangas
Raimo K R
RK
Hietala
Jarmo
J
D000328:Adult; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors