Sylvian fissure and medial temporal lobe structures in patients with schizophrenia: A magnetic resonance imaging study

Volumes of the medial temporal lobe structures (i.e. the amygdala, hippocam pus, and parahippocampal gyrus), Sylvian fissure, and inferior horn of the lateral ventricle relative to the cerebral hemisphere were measured in 24 p atients with schizophrenia and 23 normal controls using magnetic resonance imaging. The patients had significantly larger Sylvian fissures and inferio r horns bilaterally than the controls. In the patients the right Sylvian fi ssure size showed a significant positive correlation with the duration of i llness. Moreover, earlier onset of illness was significantly correlated wit h decreased volume of the left medial temporal lobe structures. These resul ts replicate previous finding of inferior horn enlargement and suggest the significance of the Sylvian fissure and the medial temporal lobe structures in pathophysiology of schizophrenia.