The Volumetric MRI Analysis of the Basal Ganglia in Boys with Tourette's Disorder

Sunwoo, Young Kyung; Shin, Yong Bum; Lee, Myung Ji; Kim, Jee Young; Bae, Jae Nam; Kang, Min Hee; Kim, Chul Eung; Lee, Jeong Seop

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the regional differences of the basal ganglia volume between the boy subjects who have Tourette's disorder and the control group who don't have this disorder by using Brain MRI.
METHODS
Sixteen subjects who were diagnosed as Tourette's disorder using DSM-IV criteria, and sixteen healthy subjects were selected. For analysis the coronal slice images of the basal ganglia were collected and collected MR images were analyzed with NIH Image (version 6.1 ppc).
RESULTS
The total brain volume in the subjects with Tourette's disorder were smaller than control group by 6.2% (F=6.2, d.f.=1, p=0.019). The right putamen volume in boys with Tourette's disorder were significant smaller than control group statistically (F=3.2, d.f.=3, p=0.040). The asymmetry (left>right) in the globus pallidus decreased significantly in the boys with Tourette's disorder (p=0.06) were found from this experiment.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that boys with Tourette's disorder may have neuropathological abnormalities in the basal ganglia. Moreover, the present findings point out the important role of basal ganglia, especially putamen, in pathophysiology of Tourette's disorder. More studies about the structural and functional analysis of the basal ganglia in Tourette's disorder are highly required.