Central region morphometry in a child brain; age and gender differences.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neuroimaging
• Child brain anatomy
• Developmental neuroscience

Background:

• Central region brain morphometry is crucial for understanding anatomy.
• This data is vital for planning pediatric neurosurgical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze central region morphometry in pediatric brains using mid-sagittal MRI.
• Investigate variations based on age and gender groups.

Main Methods:

• Measured key points and distances: commissura posterior (PC), cerebral cortex point (VCS), sulcus centralis (CS), sulcus marginalis (MS), and angle alpha.
• Analyzed data across three age groups (6-9, 10-13, 14-17) and by gender.

Main Results:

• Boys generally exhibit larger central region measures than girls, except for MS-PC distance.
• Significant differences in VCS-PC, CS-PC, and MS-PC were noted in girls aged 14-17 compared to younger groups.
• Girls show a notable increase in VCS-PC, CS-PC, and MS-PC from age 14, while boys show limited increase.

Conclusions:

• Observed morphometric differences in pediatric brains highlight distinct developmental trajectories between genders.
• These findings are valuable for assessing brain development alterations and informing neurosurgical planning in children.