만성 알코올중독 환자에서 뇌량의 형태학적 변화 - 자기공명영상을 이용한 연구 -

Morphometric Changes of Corpus Callosum in Chronic Alcoholics - A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study -

Objectives：The purpose of this study determines difference on corpus callosum between chronic alcoholic patients and controls, and relationship between severity of ethanol intake and the degree of this atrophy. Methods：Clinicoradiologic study was carried out in 20 chronic alcoholics and age-matched controls. All subjects were male and right-handedness. To estimate alcohol habits for subjects, structured interview have been made. Measurement of the midsagittal corpus callosum area and thickness (genu, truncus and splenium), as well as the frontal lobe index (FLI) and the width of the cortical sulci (SWS) on T 1 -and T 2 -weighted Magnetic Resonance Images were performed. Results：Compared to controls, alcoholics had significantly decreased corpus callosum area and thickness (mainly in genu), and significantly increased FLI and SWS. The callosal area negatively correlated with the cortical atrophies and the area of genu of the corpus callosum negatively correlated with the frontal atrophies. Moreover, the reduction of corpus callosum correlated with the total lifetime dose of ethanol consumed. Conclusions：In chronic alcoholics, atrophy of the corpus callosum is common finding and may reflect the severity and pattern of cortical damage. And the degree of callossal atrophy correlated with the severity of ethanol intake as well.