Relationship of age with the size of the interventricular foramina and aqueductus sylvii: a morphometric evaluation

The ventricular system is an essential part of the brain. Various pathologies directly or indirectly affect the size of this system. Morphometric analysis of the cerebral ventricular system is important for evaluating changes due to growth, aging, and intrinsic and extrinsic pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the normative data for the interventricular foramina and cerebral aqueduct with regard to surgery and clinical situations.

Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 128 healthy subjects (63 female subjects, 65 male subjects; 2-63 years old) were individually reviewed. The right and left interventricular foramina lengths and diameters and the cerebral aqueduct length and diameter were statistically evaluated and compared between sexes and among age groups.

There were no significant differences among the age groups in either sex (P > 0·05). Additionally, there was no correlation between age and measurement parameters (P > 0·05).

We did not observe any changes in interventricular foramina or cerebral aqueduct measurements in healthy subjects from a wide range of age groups. Such changes should be useful for diagnosing diseases that affect the ventricular system and planning surgical procedures, especially those involving the ventricular system.