Variability of the optic nerve sheath diameter on brain computed tomography in Turkish children based on sex and age.

BACKGROUND

Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement is a noninvasive method that can be used for intracranial pressure monitoring. Several studies have investigated normal ONSD values in children, but no general consensus has been reached yet.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to reveal normal ONSD, eyeball transverse diameter (ETD), and ONSD/ETD values on brain computed tomography (CT) in healthy children aged 1 month to 18 years.

METHODS

Children admitted to the emergency department with minor head trauma and had normal brain CT were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients (age and sex) were recorded, and the patients were divided into four age groups: 1 month to 2 years, 2 to 4 years, 4 to 10 years, and 10 to 18 years.

RESULTS

The images of 332 patients were analyzed. When the median values of all measurement parameters (right and left ONSD, ETD, and ONSD/ETD) were compared between the right and left eyes, no statistically significant differences were found. When the same parameters were compared according to age group, the ONSD and ETD values differed significantly (values of males were found to be higher), but the ONSD proximal/ETD and ONSD middle/ETD values did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSION

In our study, normal ONSD, ETD, and ONSD/ETD values were determined according to age and sex in healthy children. As the ONSD/ETD index did not statistically significantly differ according to age and sex, diagnostic studies for traumatic brain injuries can be performed using the index.