[Correlation between cranial vault size and brain size over time: preliminary MRI evaluation].
OBJECTIVE
To correlate changes of cranial vault measurements of an adult population during the aging process with brain size using the maximum width of the third ventricle in the axial AC-PC plane.


METHODS
Prospective study of 126 adult subjects (range: 20 to 80 years) with normal brain MRI and without history of neuropsychiatric disorder. MEASUREMENTS INCLUDED: Cranial vault (Maximum length: Glabella-Opisthocranion, Maximum width: euryon-euryon, and maximum height: Basion-Vertex) measurements and maximum width of the third ventricle in the A C-PC plane.


RESULTS
Vault measurements (length, width, high) were similar for every age group, irrespective of gender. The variability of cranial vault measurements between individuals was low (<1 cm). Cranial vault measurements were larger for men, but this was not significant when adjusted for body height Comparatively, a gradual widening of the third ventricle, with an exponential behavior, was observed with advancing age.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that cranial vault measurements are stable over time (between 20-80 years) comparatively to brain atrophy with advancing age. The low variability of cranial vault measurements and their stability over time should be taken into account during segmentation and normalization of brain parenchymal structures.
Laboratoire d'Anatomie de l'UFR Laennec, rue Guillaume Paradin, 69312 Lyon. francois.cotton@chu-lyon.fr
F
F
Cotton
T
T
Euvrard
F
F
Durand-Dubief
C
C
Pachai
M
M
Cucherat
F
F
Ramirez Rozzi
A
A
Bonmartin
A M
AM
Guihard-Costa
V A
VA
Tran Minh
B
B
Vallee
J C
JC
Froment
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*