Anatomical Science International

, Volume 85, Issue 3, pp 131–139 | Cite as

Comparison of two volumetric techniques for estimating volume of intracerebral ventricles using magnetic resonance imaging: a stereological study

  • N. Acer
  • N. Uğurlu
  • D. D. Uysal
  • E. Unur
  • M. Turgut
  • M. Çamurdanoğlu
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The size of brain ventricles is especially relevant in some brain diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Many studies have been conducted to assess the brain ventricles. To the best of our knowledge, however, there is no fourth, third and lateral ventricles volume study evaluating the efficiency and accuracy of point-counting and planimetry methods of the Cavalieri principle in the literature. In the current study, we estimated the volume of intracerebral ventricles in normal subjects using stereological methods. The volumes of fourth, third and lateral ventricle were estimated in 14 young Turkish volunteers (7 males and 7 females), aged between 18 and 36 years and free of any neurological symptoms and signs, using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Volumes of intracerebral ventricles were determined on MRIs using the point-counting and planimetry methods. The mean results of the point-counting method were 14.7 ± 4.2, 8.7 ± 3.0 and 131.8 ± 33.1 mm3 for the fourth, third and lateral ventricles, respectively. The mean results of the planimetry method were 15.4 ± 3.4, 8.6 ± 3.5 and 153.7 ± 34.6 mm3 for the fourth, third and lateral ventricles, respectively. Ventricle volumes obtained by the two different methods were not statistically different (p > 0.05) and they correlated well with each other. Good agreement was found between results obtained with the point-counting and planimetry techniques. The findings of the present study using stereological methods could provide data for the evaluation of normal and pathological volumes of intracerebral ventricles.

Keywords

Intracerebral ventricles Cavalieri principle MRI Planimetry Point-counting Stereology 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Dr. Mustafa Usanmaz and Dr. Levent Bektaş for skilful technical assistance, and Dr. Atilla Göktaş for the statistical analysis. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of their institutions or sources of support. Author contributions: The authors of this paper indicated in the title made substantial contributions to the following tasks of research: initial conception and design (NA, NU, DDU, EU, MT, MÇ); administrative, technical, or material support (NA, EU, MÇ); acquisition of data (NA, NU, DDU, MÇ); laboratory analysis and interpretation of data (NA, NU, DDU, EU, MT, MÇ); drafting of the manuscript (NA, MT, EU); critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content (NA, MT, EU, NU, DDU, MÇ). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily their institutions or sources of support.

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Copyright information

© Japanese Association of Anatomists 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • N. Acer
    • 1
    • 5
  • N. Uğurlu
    • 2
  • D. D. Uysal
    • 2
  • E. Unur
    • 1
  • M. Turgut
    • 3
  • M. Çamurdanoğlu
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of AnatomyErciyes University School of MedicineKayseriTurkey
  2. 2.Department of NursingMuğla University School of Health SciencesMuğlaTurkey
  3. 3.Department of NeurosurgeryAdnan Menderes University School of MedicineAydınTurkey
  4. 4.Kardelen Medical CenterMuğla State HospitalMuğlaTurkey
  5. 5.Erciyes ÜniversitesiKayseriTurkey

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