Shape of the human corpus callosum. Elliptic Fourier analysis on midsagittal magnetic resonance scans.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Sex, age, or functional-asymmetry-related variations in the size and shape characteristics of the midsagittal magnetic resonance (MR) image of the human corpus callosum (CC) have been widely investigated in the last 10 years, with conflicting results. In the current study, the authors attempted to analyze the sex- and age-related shape differences of the human CC in a large sample of adult subjects from a mathematical standpoint.

METHODS

On the midsagittal MR images of 143 neurologically intact adults (75 women, 68 men, 21 to 81 years of age) the outline of the CC was identified. The shape of the CC was quantified using elliptic Fourier analysis, which allows for a global evaluation of the shape of organs identified by their outlines independent of their size, spatial orientation, and relation to reference planes. Subjects were grouped by sex and age.

RESULTS

The shape of the human CC within age and sex class was highly variable. The analysis of variance showed a significant effect of age; however no significant sex differences could be demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

Larger sample sizes are required to definitively assess the normal shape variations in human CC. The method developed also could be applied to the comparison of healthy and diseased individuals.