Estimation of cerebral surface area of the newborn brain using stereological methods

Abstract

Objective: In this study, normal values of the newborn brain's volume and surface area were calculated for the early diagnosis of disease related to the central nervous system which may develop in newborns. Materials and Methods: In this study we investigated MRI images of 5 newborn cadavers. Stereologic measurements were performed to calculate the volume and surface area of the brain. We used Archimedes principle as a gold standard and the point counting method as a stereologic method for volume estimation of the newborn brains. Cycloid probe was superimposed on images,which were obtained by using the vertical section method, for suface area estimation of the brain and then results were obtained. Results: We estimated the mean cerebral volume as 246±79.4 cm3 and 256±71.1cm3, by the point counting technique and gold standard, respectively. We estimated cerebral surface area using the vertical section method in 4 orientations, the results were 210±41, 202±36.4 cm2, 267±41 cm2 and 293±52.6 cm2 two post processing, coronal and sagittal planes, respectively. Conclusion: We consider that our study will be a good source for similar studies performed in future. © 2013 by Erciyes University School of Medicine.