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Intracranial volume change in childhood
S Sgouros1, J H Goldin, A D Hockley
1Department of Craniofacial Surgery and Institute of Child Health, Birmingham Children's Hospital, United Kingdom. S.Sgouros@bham.ac.uk
Insights
This study models normal changes in a child's intracranial volume (ICV) from infancy to adolescence. Males generally have larger ICV than females, with growth occurring in distinct, non-linear, 5-year periods.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Understanding typical brain development is crucial for identifying potential neurological abnormalities.
- Intracranial volume (ICV) is a key indicator of brain growth and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a normative model for intracranial volume (ICV) changes in children.
- To track ICV development from early childhood (7 days) through adolescence (15 years).
Main Methods:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to acquire brain scans of healthy children.
- Image segmentation techniques were employed to accurately measure ICV.
- Measured ICV was plotted against age to establish growth patterns.
Main Results:
- Infant ICV averages 900 cm³ (males) and 600 cm³ (females), reaching 1500 cm³ (males) and 1300 cm³ (females) by age 15.
- By age 2, ICV reaches 77% of 15-year-old volume; by age 5, it reaches 90%.
- ICV growth is non-linear, exhibiting distinct linear growth phases within 5-year intervals (0-5, 5-10, 10-15 years).
Conclusions:
- Males consistently exhibit larger ICV than females throughout childhood.
- Childhood ICV growth follows a segmented, non-linear trajectory with distinct linear phases.
- The established model provides a reference for normal intracranial volume development.
Object:
The goal of this study was to construct a model of normal changes in intracranial volume occurring throughout childhood from age 7 days to 15 years.
Methods:
Using the technique of segmentation on magnetic resonance images obtained in healthy children, intracranial volume was measured and plotted against age.
Conclusions:
Intracranial volume in the first few months of life is on average 900 cm3 in males and 600 cm3 in females. By the age of 15 years, it increases up to 1500 cm3 in males and 1300 cm3 in females, increased by factors of 1.6 and 2.1, respectively. By the time the child reaches 2 years of age, intracranial volume has reached 77% (1150 cm3 in males and 1000 cm3 in females) and, by 5 years, 90% (1350 cm3 in males and 1200 cm3 in females) of the volume observed at age 15 years. The change in intracranial volume that occurs with age is not linear, but there seems to be a segmental pattern. Three main periods can be distinguished, each lasting approximately 5 years (0-5, 5-10, and 10-15 years), during which the growth of intracranial volume is linear. Throughout childhood, males have higher intracranial volumes than females, with a similar growth pattern.