Stereological Measurement of the Volume of Medulla Oblongata in Young Adults from Magnetic Resonance Images using ImageJ Software

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the volume of the medulla oblongata (MO) in young adult Sudanese from magnetic resonance images using ImageJ software. Methods and Results: The study included 36 (18 males and 18 females) young adult Sudanese with normal brain MRI. The MO volume was measured from a T1-weighted MRI in healthy young adult Sudanese using ImageJ software to determine the effect of age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) on the MO volume. The study found that the stereological volume of MO was 717.39±82.31 mm3 with significant differences between genders. The mean MO volume was greater in males than in females (769.2±54.2 mm3 and 665.7±73 mm3, respectively. P<0.001). There was an inverse, positive, moderately significant correlation between the age and MO volume (r=-0.341, P<0.05). In contrast, there was no significant correlation between BMI and MO volume (P>0.05) Conclusion: Our study detected a significant difference between genders in MO volume, which was greater in males than in females. There is no significant correlation between MO volume and BMI. The size of the MO in individuals with normal brain MRI decreased gradually, by increasing age, from 20 to 40 years.