Diameter Measurement Of Pineal Gland In Human Brain:A MRI Study

Object1. We tried to measure position,the length,width, high diameter and volume of pineal gland and discuss the changing rule of different groups by gender and age in health adults on MRI,which in order to provide the reference for the early and differential diagnosis of the pineal gland lesions,and to provide some statistics of pineal gland for establishing the parameter standard of the pineal gland for the adult brain of chinese people,and have significance clinical practical value in the desigh for the operative approach of the pineal gland.2. We tried to observe whether have morphological changes of pineal gland in the process of Alzheimer’ s disease by MRI,which in order to provide some pineal gland statistics for patients with AD to make the brain MRI clinical statistics completely and to provide morphological evidences for the research of AD pathogenesis and early diagnosis.Methods1. Totally 327 adults’ s brain were scanned by using 3D MR sequences.we measured the distance from the central point of pineal gland to the anterior wall, the posterior cranial wall, the left cranial wall, the right cranial wall,the calvaria wall,and analyse the gender difference. Analyse the percentage and distance of the central of width of the pineal gland shifting the median line of human body and analyzed the gender and lateral difference.Length,width,high,volume,length index,width index,high index,volume index of pineal gland,and analyzed the gender difference and ralations with ages; all of the above measurement on the 3D MR sequences of brain of participators.We devided participators into 18~30years,31~40 years,41~50 years,51~60 years,61~70 years group, and then analyzed difference and the change trendency of length,width,high and volume of pineal gland between groups.We analyzed gender difference of every group.2. According to the process of AD, collected brain MRI image of normal control group 24 cases,Ⅰstage group 18 cases,Ⅱstage group 16 cases and III-Ⅳstage group 20 cases respectively. Length,width,high and volume of the pineal gland had been measured,then analyzed the change trend of the measurement between each group.Results1. Distance from the central point of pineal gland to the anterior wall was 98.30±8.12 mm in female group and 100.14±7.32 mm in male group(female>male,P<0.05);Distance from the central point of pineal gland to the posterior cranial wall was 71.15±6.60 mm in female group and 74.52±5.16 mm in male group(female>male,P<0.05); Distance from the central point of pineal gland to the left cranial wall was 71.06±3.63 mm in female group and 72.60±3.64 mm in male group( female>male,P<0.05);Distance from the central point of pineal gland to the right cranial wall was 71.44±5.02 mm in female group and 72.46±3.36 mm in male group(female>male,P<0.05);Distance from the central point of pineal gland to the calvaria wall was 74.08±4.06 mm in female group and 75.42±3.94 mm in male group(female>male,P<0.05).2. The central of width of the pineal gland hardly overlap with the central of transverse diameter of cranial cavity.In the normal woman group,the percentage of the central of width of the pineal gland shifting the median line of human body reach up to 98.81%, there was 41.07% have left shifting and left shift diantance was 0.14~2.78 mm,and 57.74% have right shifting and right shift diantance was 0.14~1.80 mm,left shifting larger than right shifting; In the normal man group,the percentage the central of width of the pineal gland shifting the median line of human body reach up to 96.23%, there was 40.25% have left shifting and left shift diantance was 0.24~2.70 mm,and 55.97% have right shifting and right shift diantance was 0.12~1.76 mm, left shifting larger than right shifting.But had on gender difference.3. The length of pineal gland was 7.12±1.11 mm in female group and 6.52±1.01 mm in male group and have no gender difference, the standerdized length of pineal gland was7.12±1.11 mm in female group and 6.63±1.04 mm in male group(female>male,P<0.05),the index of length of pineal gland was 3.92±0.63 mm in female group and 3.74±0.60 mm in male group( female>male, P<0.05).The width of pineal gland was 5.72±0.98 mm in female group and 5.38±1.07 mm in male group,the standardized width of pineal gland was 5.72±1.14 mm in female group and 5.37±1.07 mm in male group,the index of width of pineal gland was 3.70±0.73 in female group and 3.68±0.65 in male group,which of the above have no difference.The high of pineal gland was 4.38±0.43 mm in female group and 4.03±0.62 mm in male group,the standardized high of pineal gland was 4.36±0.44 mm in female group and 4.04±0.67 mm in male group,the index of high of pineal gland was 2.78±0.42 in female group and 2.76±0.42 in male group, which of the above have no difference.The volume of pineal gland was 88.92±27.90 mm3 in female group and 74.35±23.62 mm3 in male group(female>male,P<0.05),the standardized volume of pineal gland was 88.66±27.13 mm3 in female group and 75.34±24.98 mm3 in male froup(female>male,P<0.05),the index of volume of pineal gland was 2.66±0.90 in female group and 2.23±0.70 in male group(female>male,P<0.05).4. The standardized length of pineal gland of female was larger than male in 18~70 group normal health people;however, the standardized length of pineal gland of female was larger than male in 41~50 group and 51~60 group,and have no difference in 18~30 group,31~40 group and 61~70 group. The standardized volume of pineal gland of female was larger than male in 18~70 group normal health people;however,the standardized volume of pineal gland of female was larger than male in 31~40 group and 41~50 group,and female was smaller than male in 51~60 group, and have no difference in 18~30 group and 61~70 group. There has no gender difference in 18~70 group, and has no gender difference in 18~30 group,31~40 group,41~50 group,51~60 group,61~70 group.5. In the process of AD, the standardized height of pineal gland had a increase in theⅠand Ⅱgroup compared with NC group(P<0.05),and had no difference betweet III-Ⅳ group and NC group; had no difference betweetⅡgroup andⅠgroup,and had a reduction in III-Ⅳgroup compared withⅠgroup(P<0.05); had a reduction in the III-Ⅳ group compared with the Ⅱgroup(P<0.05).The standardized height of pineal gland had no linear correlation with MMSE scores,CDR scores and ADL scores. In the process of AD,the standardized length,width and volume of pineal gland had on difference betweenⅠgroup,Ⅱgroup,III-Ⅳgroup compared with NC group; had on difference betweenⅡgroup compared withⅠgroup,and had a reduction in III-Ⅳgroup compared withⅠgroup(P<0.05); had on differencein between III-Ⅳgroup compared withⅡgroup.The standardized length,width and volume of pineal gland had no linear correlation with MMSE scores,CDR scores and ADL scores.Conclusion1. The length of pineal gland of health female was larger than health male from ages of 41 to 60,but has no gender difference from ages of 18 to 41,and ages of 61 to 70. The volume of pineal gland of health female was larger than health male from ages of 31 to 50,and female smaller than male from ages of 51 to 60,but has no gender difference from ages of 18 to 30,and ages of 61 to 70.So we need to match with ages when compare gender difference of length and volume of pineal gland.There have no gender difference of width and high every group by ages.2. It is necessity to set up the diameter and volume measurement of the pineal gland of normal people according to ages and gender,which in order to provide the reference for the early and differential diagnosis of the pineal gland lesions,3. The standerdzed measurement can exclude the individual differerce,which can detect the morphologic change of the pineal gland early and timely.4. The central of width of the pineal gland might left shifting,right shifting or on the the median line of human body.So we could not think there was a signal of space-occupying lesions in cranial cavity once found the central of width of the pineal gland shifting the median line of human body,which might make for misdiagnose.5. There has morphological changes of pineal gland in the process of Alzheimer’ s disease. The standardized height of pineal gland was larger in theⅠstage and Ⅱstage compaied with NC, but has no difference in III-Ⅳ stage compaire with NC; The standardized length,width and volume of pineal gland was smaller in III-Ⅳ stage compaired withⅠstage. Checking up the pineal gland by imaging methods may help to diagnose the early stage of AD.