Measurement of Normal Brainstem Diameter in SudanesePopulation using MRI

Abstract

The brainstem is so important structure that contains many centers which control some vital processes like cardiac rhythm, sleep cycle and respiratory procedure .Also ten of the cranial nerve originate from the brainstem . The main objective of the study to determine normal brainstem AP diameters in Sudanese population. In addition to correlate the findings with age and gender .We examined 50 subjects aged between 16-81 years in both gender(28 males and 22 females) were included in the study, all were diagnosed as normal brain MRI when the measurement was done . MRI sagittal T1 weighted image were obtained, measurements taken For Pons, midbrain and medulla oblongata. All measurement taken in mm. Correlation between brainstem parts measurement with age were studied. The study showed that the measurements of the brainstem structure were found to be at similar range comparing with other population. MRI had great value in the accurate measurements. The study concluded that all the values have linear relationship with age, and no association between gender and brainstem measurement. The study recommended that further study should be done with larger sample of population for more accurate result, volumetric measurement may give more information than linear measurement and further study should be done with more body characteristic.