Measurement of the corpus callosum using magnetic resonance imaging in the North of Iran

Background: Morphometric measurements of the corpus callosum (CC) are important to have normative values according to sex, age and race/ethnicity. Objectives: This study was done to measure the size of CC and to identify its gender- and age-related differences in the North of Iran. Patients and Methods: The size of CC on midsagittal section was measured in 100 (45 males, 55 females) normal subjects using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) admitted to the Kowsar MRI center in Gorgan-Northern Iran. Longitudinal and vertical dimensions of the CC, longitudinal and vertical lengths of the brain and the length of genu and splenium were measured. Data were analyzed by student's unpaired t test, ANOVA and regression analysis. Results: The anteroposterior length and vertical dimension of the CC, the length of genu and splenium were larger in males than in females, but these differences were not significant. The anteroposterior and vertical lengths of the brain were significantly larger in males than in females (P < 0.05). The length of CC increased with age and regression equations for predicting age were derived from the length of the CC. There was also a positive significant correlation between the anteroposterior length of the CC and the length of the brain and vertical dimension of the CC. Conclusions: This study showed that various CC parameters vary with the values documented in the Caucasian, Indian and Japanese population. Copyright © 2012, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Iranian Society of Radiology