Age changes in Corpus Callosum among Indian cadaver specimens: a normative study

During neurosurgeries like corpus callosotomy (palliative procedure performed in case of intractable seizures) surgical separation of corpus callosum is required. In order to perform the surgical separation of corpus callosum, one needs to have complete knowledge about anatomy and morphometry of corpus callosum. The current study was carried out in order to establish the normative data about morphometry of corpus callosum across various age groups.

Thirty fresh human cadaveric brain specimens were used. The two cerebral hemispheres were separated from midline. The measurement of length of corpus callosum and thickness of its various parts was carried out on both the cerebral hemispheres.

In the age group of 25-45 years the mean length, thick-ness of genu, body, splenium and rostrum was found to be 76.91 ± 3.78 mm, 7.61 ± 0.79 mm, 4.93 ± 0.49 mm, 9.86 ± 1.43 mm, 3.07 ± 0.37 mm respectively. In the age group of 45.1-65 years the length, thickness of genu, body, splenium and rostrum recorded were 72.49 ± 3.88 mm, 11.57 ± 2.23 mm, 7.07 ± 2.81 mm, 10.20 ± 1.68 mm, 4.22 ± 1.15 mm respectively. In the age group of 65.1-85 years the mean reading of length, thickness of genu, body, splenium and rostrum were 70.20 ± 5.69 mm, 10.45 ± 1.64 mm, 5.51 ± 0.86 mm, 9.61 ± 1.09 mm, 3.97 ± 0.79 mm respectively. In the age group of >85 years the length, thickness of genu, body, splenium and rostrum recorded were 69.28 ± 4.66 mm, 9.31 ± 1.44 mm, 5.18 ± 0.84 mm, 8.56 ± 2.47 mm, 2.69 ± 0.76mm respectively.

This data would be useful for neurosurgeons in order to perform transcallosal surgeries in safer way as well as for psychiatrics and radiologists while analysis the scans of patients with psychiatric patients.