| Purpose: To evaluate morphological changes of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in patients with moderate to severe primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by 3.0-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Methods: Eighteen patients with moderate to severe POAG, and eighteen age and gender mathched healthy subjects underwent MRI examinations. LGN was identified and manually extracted by two experienced neuroradiologists. The maximum height and volumes of the bilateral LGNs were measured. The patients and controls were compared with t test
Results: Bilateral LGNs could be visualized clearly by 3.0T MRI. The mean maximum height of the right LGN was 4.18±0.53mm for patients and 5.01±0.40mm for controls, while that of left LGN was 4.15±0.55mm for patients and 4.96±0.40mm for controls. The combined LGN height was 8.33±1.05mm for patients and 9.97±0.73mm for normal subjects. For volumes, the mean right LGN was 86.6±15.0 mm3 in patients whereas it was148.4±19.5 mm3 in controls, the left one was 83.4±17.9 mm3 in patients and 149.3±13.5 mm3 in controls, the combined LGN volumes of patients and controls were 169.9±29.0 mm3 and 297.7±29.2 mm3 respectively.
Conclusions: Bilateral LGNs could be clearly visualized by 3.0T MRI, both the heights and volumes of LGN decreased significantly in patients with POAG than the normal subjects. The morphological changes, especially changes in the LGN volumes, provided an efficient and reliable biomarker for the clinical observations on central nerve system damages in glaucoma. |
