normal basal ganglia variation in the human brain: an mrI and vbm based morphological and morphometrical analysis

In this report we highlighted basal ganglia morphology and volume diff erences in normal humans in comparison to gender and age sub-groups. We measured the volumes of the caudate nucleus, the putamen, and the globus pallidus on MR images of 52 healthy adults whose ages at baseline ranged between 20 and 84 years; we also made a comparison with lateral ventricles. The method applied is three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering starting from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of selected brain regions (basal ganglia e lateral ventricles). The analysis revealed a signifi cant main eff ect of age, gender and craniometric index. Regarding gender subgroups the Mann–Whitney test showed signifi cant diff erences between groups in the following parameters: Left putamen greater in males than in females, and Left pale nucleus greater in females than in males. Regarding age subgroups differences were found in subjects < 35 years old with statistical decrease of right caudate nucleus, meanwhile left caudate nucleus had no signifi cant statistical diff erences. Regarding craniometric index subgroups signifi cant diff erences between groups emerged only in both ventricular volumes. Our fi ndings were consistent with literature and may shed light on some of the discrepancies in previous reports on basal ganglia volume shrinkage and ventricle volume enlargement.