Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2018.150

RELIABILITY OF THE BICAUDATE PARAMETER IN THE REVEALING OF THE ENLARGED LATERAL VENTRICLES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS

Nebojsa Milovanovic ; Clinics for Psychiatry “Laza Lazarevic“, Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar Damjanovic ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Srđan Milovanovic ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Dragana Duisin ; Institute for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Milos Malis ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Anatomy “Niko Miljanic”, Belgrade, Serbia
Gordana Stankovic ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Anatomy “Niko Miljanic”, Belgrade, Serbia
Anka Rankovic ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Anatomy “Niko Miljanic”, Belgrade, Serbia
Milan Latas ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Branka F. Filipovic ; Clinical and Hospital Center “Bezanijska Kosa“, Belgrade, Serbia
Branislav R. Filipovic ; School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Anatomy “Niko Miljanic”, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Introduction: In schizophrenia patients the lateral ventricle enlargement has mostly been reported in relationship with smaller
cortical and/or subcortical brain volumes; and it has been observed that ventricular system growth may be a consequence of the
smaller caudate nucleus volume. Bicaudate parameters have been used in the Alzheimer dementia and Huntington’s chorea
diagnosing in order to evaluate brain changes and the enlargement of the lateral ventricles.
Subjects and methods: This study has been carried out on 140 patients out of which 70 patients (30 men and 40 women) who met
the ICD 10 criteria for schizophrenia and 70 healthy controls (30 men and 40 women) matched on sex and age with the studied
group. All of them underwent direct caudatometry and volume computation based on MRI scans.
Results: Except for the bicorporal line, for all the parameters were obtained the statistically highly significant differences between
the examined and control groups. Significant correlation was established for the majority of bicaudate parameters and volumes
of the caudate nuclei and lateral ventricles.
Discussion: Enlargement of the lateral ventricles is one of the most frequent MRI finding in schizophrenia patients. Ventricles
are enlarging gradually and frontal horns are more affected than other parts. The increased volumes of the caudate nuclei signalized
that ventricular enlargement is not the consequence of the caudate atrophy.
Conclusion: Bicaudate parameters are reliable parameters for the quick orientation in order to assess the enlarged ventricles in
schizophrenia patients.

Keywords

lateral ventricles; schizophrenia; basal nuclei; MRI; brain

Hrčak ID:

202060

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/202060

Publication date:

26.6.2018.

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