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Choroid plexus: normal size criteria on neuroimaging

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Abstract

Purpose

The lack of a well-recognized normal size criterion for the choroid plexus makes small or diffuse choroid plexus pathologies difficult to recognize. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal size of the choroid plexus in the pediatric population utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and ultrasound (US). As volume measurement across multiple slices is a laborious process, we wanted to propose a simple clinical tool that is easy to use, reproducible, and quick to obtain measurements.

Methods

This study retrospectively evaluated choroid plexus size in 90 children between the ages of 0 and 16. To determine the choroid plexus thickness, a total of 97 studies (71 MRIs and 26 Ultrasounds) were reviewed, from children without any signs of choroid plexus pathology; 6 measurements were taken from MR studies, and 3 measurements were taken from US studies. Averages and ranges of choroid plexus thickness were computed across age groups and gender.

Results

Across all ages, the mean choroid plexus thickness in the lateral ventricles was found to be 3.4, 3.3, and 3.1 mm in the axial, coronal, and sagittal views; 3.2 mm in the temporal horns; 2.5 mm in the fourth ventricle with the lateral limb of the choroid plexus in the fourth ventricle measuring 11.3 mm in length. No trends were observed with respect to age subgroups or gender.

Conclusion

Choroid plexus thickness on average was 3.2 mm in the lateral ventricles and 2.5 mm in the fourth ventricle.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, H066, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Megha Madhukar, Arabinda K. Choudhary & Danielle K. Boal

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, H066, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Mark S. Dias & Mark R. Iantosca

Authors
  1. Megha Madhukar
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  2. Arabinda K. Choudhary
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  3. Danielle K. Boal
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  4. Mark S. Dias
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  5. Mark R. Iantosca
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Correspondence to Megha Madhukar.

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Madhukar, M., Choudhary, A.K., Boal, D.K. et al. Choroid plexus: normal size criteria on neuroimaging. Surg Radiol Anat 34, 887–895 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-0980-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-0980-5

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