Voxel-based analysis of gray matter and CSF space in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

AIMS: To investigate regional morphologic changes in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) based on diagnosis with INPH Guidelines using voxel-based morphometry.

METHOD: Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 34 INPH patients, who met probable INPH criteria, probable 34 Alzheimer disease patients, and 34 normal control subjects.

RESULTS

Statistical parametric mapping was used to conduct voxel-based morphometry analysis of the morphologic data and revealed enlarged ventricles and sylvian fissures and stenotic sulci of high convexity, especially in the precuneus in the INPH group, with decreased gray matter density in the insula, caudate and thalamus.

CONCLUSION

In INPH, morphologic change occurs in the frontoparietal high convexity with ventricular dilatations, dilated sylvian fissures and tight sulci in the medial parietal lobes.