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Updated: Sep 4, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
The asymmetric mamillary body: association with medial temporal lobe disease demonstrated with MR
A C Mamourian1, L Rodichok, J Towfighi
1Department of Radiology, Dartmouth-Hitchock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Purpose:
To determine whether mamillary body atrophy is caused by deafferentation of the mamillary body in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis.
Methods:
We studied 36 patients with thin-section MR to assess mamillary body symmetry. These patients included 10 control subjects without seizures and 26 patients with a history of seizures. Thin-section T1 scans were available for all cases. The patients with epilepsy underwent axial and coronal T2 scans as well.
Results:
In five of eight cases with prior medial temporal lobe resection for intractable epilepsy, there was evidence of unilateral mamillary body atrophy ipsilateral to the resection. Similar findings were evident in three of six patients with MR findings of mesial temporal sclerosis without surgery. Two patients with medial temporal stroke or tumor also had ipsilateral mamillary body atrophy.
Conclusion:
These findings provide support for the proposed mechanism of mamillary body atrophy caused by prior medial temporal lobe injury.
Insights
Mamillary body atrophy may result from deafferentation following medial temporal lobe injury. This study found atrophy in patients with epilepsy and other medial temporal lobe damage, supporting this mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- The mamillary bodies are crucial for memory formation.
- Medial temporal lobe injuries can lead to neurological deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if mamillary body atrophy is caused by deafferentation in mesial temporal sclerosis patients.
- To explore the relationship between medial temporal lobe injury and mamillary body atrophy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized thin-section Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging to assess mamillary body symmetry in 36 patients.
- Included 10 healthy controls and 26 patients with a history of seizures.
- Analyzed T1, axial, and coronal T2 scans.
Main Results:
- Unilateral mamillary body atrophy was observed ipsilateral to the resection in 5/8 epilepsy patients who underwent medial temporal lobe resection.
- Similar atrophy was found in 3/6 patients with mesial temporal sclerosis without surgery.
- Two patients with medial temporal stroke or tumor also showed ipsilateral mamillary body atrophy.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that mamillary body atrophy results from deafferentation due to prior medial temporal lobe injury.
- This mechanism may explain neurological deficits in patients with specific brain lesions.
