Morphometric analysis of the main brain sulci and clinical implications: Radiological and cadaveric study

Sulci and gyri of the cerebrum can be easily identified with the aid of radiology but are difficult to locate during surgical operations, owing to anatomical variations and the surgical approach of the sulci through a small aperture. Therefore, this study was performed to locate the main sulci of the brain by using various anatomical landmarks in cadaveric brain specimens and CT scan images.

In 31 cadaveric brain specimens (17 right and 14 left hemispheres) from people of unknown sex, 21 parameters associated with important sulci of the brain were studied. CT scan images for 150 patients in three age groups were examined. The patient IDs were categorized into 50 patients in each of the following age groups: 20-40 yr, 41-60 yr and 61-80 yr. Ten parameters were studied. The data were statistically analyzed in SPSS software.

In the cadaveric brain specimens, comparisons of right and left hemispheres indicated that only the posterior part of the calcarine sulcus showed a significant difference (p = 0.0394). In CT scans within each age group, comparison of the right and left sides in males and females showed significant differences for many parameters (e.g., calcarine sulcus to occipital pole: right p = 0.0025; left p = 0.0009). Comparisons between male and female parameters also showed significant differences.

This study aids in identifying the important functional areas of the brain situated near the sulci, given that the sulci are connected to the gyral functions and act as a barrier for the gyri. The findings may facilitate neurosurgery operations.