Corpus callosum area and sectioning: a radioanatomical study correlated with MRI and cadaver morphometry

Abstract

PurposeThe corpus callosum (CC) is the primary interhemispheric connection between the two cerebral hemispheres. Besides their similar morphological characters, there are differences in their measurements. This study aimed to divide the CC into groups using planes based on the anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) and to detect differences in CC magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cadaver samples between these groups.MethodsThe study included 80 patients (40 male and 40 female patients) who underwent normal MRI in the midsagittal plane, and 38 cerebral hemispheres from 40 adult cadaver brains, with each hemisected in the midsagittal plane. The medial surface of the CC was divided vertically into three parts (the anterior, middle, and posterior zones) according to the AC and PC. Areas and parameters were measured in both the cadaveric hemispheres and patient MRI images.ResultsThe total CC area and CC areas between, anterior, and posterior to the AC-PC vertical lines were the same in both the MRI and cadaver samples. In addition, morphometric measurements like the CC length, AC-PC length, and CC height at the AC and PC vertical lines, and their correlations were also found to be similar between the MRI and cadaver samples.ConclusionThis study proposes three areas according to AC and PC classification (anterior, middle, and posterior). This new proposed classification is suitable for stereotactic interventions and is useful for obtaining data from MRI images. However, it should be kept in mind that there may be changes and variations.