Three-dimensional magnetic resonance-based morphometrics and ventricular dysmorphology in schizophrenia

Background: Recent methodological refinements in magnetic resonance (MR) im aging have led to brain averaging and morphometric approaches that are sens itive to subtle anatomical distinctions in schizophrenia, Methods: Using a novel morphometric technique for surface analysis, 48 sele cted landmarks of the rendered ventricular system were extracted and compar ed between the ventricles of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 normal s ubjects, Results: There was no significant difference in ventricular shape between g roups, but significant (p =.015) and highly localized shape deformity was d etected at the foramen of Monro and at the proximal temporal ham of the lat eral ventricle of male (but not female) patients relative to controls. Conclusions: Three-dimensional MR-based morphometrics complements establish ed volumetric approaches and can detect minute shape deformities that may b e associated with schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45: 62-67 (C) 1999 So ciety of Biological Psychiatry.