Normative reference data for intracranial volume in children: The results of CT volumetry

Intracranial volume (ICV) is an important indicator of the development of the brain and skull in children. At present, there is a lack of ICV growth standards based on large infant and children samples. Our aim was to assess the normal range of the ICV variation in Russian children using a modern automatic system for constructing the endocranial cavity (Endex) and to provide growth standards of the ICV for clinical practice.

High-resolution head CT scans were obtained from 673 apparently healthy children (380 boys and 293 girls) aged 0–17 years and transformed into the ICV estimates using the Endex software. The open-source software RefCurv utilizing R and the GAMLSS add-on package with the LMS method was then used for the construction of smooth centile growth references for ICV according to age and sex.

We demonstrated that the ICVs estimates calculated using the Endex software are perfectly comparable with those obtained by a conventional technique (i.e. seed feeling). Sex-specific pediatric growth charts for ICV were constructed.

This study makes available for use in clinical practice ICV growth charts for the age from 0 to 17 based on a sample of 673 high-resolution CT images.