Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia

This retrospective study assessed anatomical characteristics of cervicomedullary compression in children with achondroplasia. Twelve anatomical parameters were analyzed (foramen magnum diameter and area; myelon area; clivus length; tentorium and occipital angles; brainstem volume outside the posteri...

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Main Authors: Isabella Trautwein, Daniel Behme, Philip Kunkel, Jasper Gerdes, Klaus Mohnike
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Imaging
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/10/11/291
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author Isabella Trautwein
Daniel Behme
Philip Kunkel
Jasper Gerdes
Klaus Mohnike
author_facet Isabella Trautwein
Daniel Behme
Philip Kunkel
Jasper Gerdes
Klaus Mohnike
author_sort Isabella Trautwein
collection DOAJ
description This retrospective study assessed anatomical characteristics of cervicomedullary compression in children with achondroplasia. Twelve anatomical parameters were analyzed (foramen magnum diameter and area; myelon area; clivus length; tentorium and occipital angles; brainstem volume outside the posterior fossa; and posterior fossa, cerebellum, supratentorial ventricular system, intracranial cerebrospinal fluid, and fourth ventricle volumes) from sagittal and transversal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 37 children with achondroplasia aged ≤ 4 years (median [range] 0.8 [0.1–3.6] years) and compared with scans from 37 children without achondroplasia (median age 1.5 [0–3.9] years). Mann–Whitney U testing was used for between-group comparisons. Foramen magnum diameter and area were significantly smaller in children with achondroplasia compared with the reference group (mean 10.0 vs. 16.1 mm [<i>p</i> < 0.001] and 109.0 vs. 160.8 mm<sup>2</sup> [<i>p</i> = 0.005], respectively). The tentorial angle was also steeper in children with achondroplasia (mean 47.6 vs. 38.1 degrees; <i>p</i> < 0.001), while the clivus was significantly shorter (mean 23.5 vs. 30.3 mm; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant differences were also observed in myelon area, occipital angle, fourth ventricle, intracranial cerebrospinal fluid and supratentorial ventricular volumes, and the volume of brainstem protruding beyond the posterior fossa (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). MRI analysis of brain structures may provide a standardized value to indicate decompression surgery in children with achondroplasia.
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spelling doaj-art-bb22781bebdf4e388b3c42b4dad894b42025-08-20T02:48:02ZengMDPI AGJournal of Imaging2313-433X2024-11-01101129110.3390/jimaging10110291Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with AchondroplasiaIsabella Trautwein0Daniel Behme1Philip Kunkel2Jasper Gerdes3Klaus Mohnike4Children’s Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyClinic for Neuroradiology, University Hospital, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyChildren’s Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyChildren’s Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyThis retrospective study assessed anatomical characteristics of cervicomedullary compression in children with achondroplasia. Twelve anatomical parameters were analyzed (foramen magnum diameter and area; myelon area; clivus length; tentorium and occipital angles; brainstem volume outside the posterior fossa; and posterior fossa, cerebellum, supratentorial ventricular system, intracranial cerebrospinal fluid, and fourth ventricle volumes) from sagittal and transversal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 37 children with achondroplasia aged ≤ 4 years (median [range] 0.8 [0.1–3.6] years) and compared with scans from 37 children without achondroplasia (median age 1.5 [0–3.9] years). Mann–Whitney U testing was used for between-group comparisons. Foramen magnum diameter and area were significantly smaller in children with achondroplasia compared with the reference group (mean 10.0 vs. 16.1 mm [<i>p</i> < 0.001] and 109.0 vs. 160.8 mm<sup>2</sup> [<i>p</i> = 0.005], respectively). The tentorial angle was also steeper in children with achondroplasia (mean 47.6 vs. 38.1 degrees; <i>p</i> < 0.001), while the clivus was significantly shorter (mean 23.5 vs. 30.3 mm; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant differences were also observed in myelon area, occipital angle, fourth ventricle, intracranial cerebrospinal fluid and supratentorial ventricular volumes, and the volume of brainstem protruding beyond the posterior fossa (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). MRI analysis of brain structures may provide a standardized value to indicate decompression surgery in children with achondroplasia.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/10/11/291achondroplasiamagnetic resonance imagingcervicomedullary compressionforamen magnum stenosisdecompression surgery
spellingShingle Isabella Trautwein
Daniel Behme
Philip Kunkel
Jasper Gerdes
Klaus Mohnike
Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia
Journal of Imaging
achondroplasia
magnetic resonance imaging
cervicomedullary compression
foramen magnum stenosis
decompression surgery
title Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia
title_full Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia
title_fullStr Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia
title_full_unstemmed Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia
title_short Anatomical Characteristics of Cervicomedullary Compression on MRI Scans in Children with Achondroplasia
title_sort anatomical characteristics of cervicomedullary compression on mri scans in children with achondroplasia
topic achondroplasia
magnetic resonance imaging
cervicomedullary compression
foramen magnum stenosis
decompression surgery
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/10/11/291
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