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The hippocampus: detailed assessment of normative two-dimensional measurements, signal intensity, and subfield conspicuity on routine 3T T2-weighted sequences

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Abstract

Purpose

The hippocampus has a critical role in many common disease processes. Currently, routine 3 Tesla structural MRI is a mainstay of clinical diagnosis. The goal of our study is to evaluate the normal variability in size and/or conspicuity of the hippocampal subcomponents in routine clinical 3 Tesla high-resolution T2-weighted images to provide a basis for better defining pathological derangements. Additionally, we utilize diffusion data acquired from a 17.6 Tesla MRI of the hippocampus as a benchmark to better illustrate these subcomponents.

Methods

The hippocampus was retrospectively assessed on 104 clinically normal patients undergoing coronal T2-weighted imaging. The conspicuity of the majority of hippocampal subcomponents was assessed in each portion of the hippocampus. Additionally, easily applicable cross-sectional measurements and signal intensities were obtained to evaluate the range of normal, as well as inter- and intra-subject variability.

Results

The normal range of cross-sectional measurements of the hippocampal subcomponents was calculated. There was minimal side-to-side variability in cross-sectional measurements of hippocampal subcomponents (< 5%) with the exception of the subiculum (R>L by 8.3%) and the CA4/DG (R>L by 5.8%). The internal architecture showed high variability in visibility of subcomponents between different segments of the hippocampus.

Conclusions

Confident clinical assessment of the hippocampus requires a thorough knowledge of hippocampal size and signal, but also the internal architecture expected to be seen. The data provided in this study will provide the reader with vital information necessary for distinguishing a normal from abnormal exam.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St. S., JT N409, Birmingham, AL, 35249, USA

    Erik H. Middlebrooks

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Ronald G. Quisling

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Michael A. King

  4. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Michael A. King

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Paul R. Carney

  6. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Steven Roper

  7. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Luis M. Colon-Perez & Thomas H. Mareci

  8. Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Luis M. Colon-Perez

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  1. Erik H. Middlebrooks
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  2. Ronald G. Quisling
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  3. Michael A. King
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Correspondence to Erik H. Middlebrooks.

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Middlebrooks, E.H., Quisling, R.G., King, M.A. et al. The hippocampus: detailed assessment of normative two-dimensional measurements, signal intensity, and subfield conspicuity on routine 3T T2-weighted sequences. Surg Radiol Anat 39, 1149–1159 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-017-1843-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-017-1843-x

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