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Localization of the central sulcus using the distinctive high signal intensity of the paracentral lobule on T1-weighted images

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Purpose

The central sulcus is an important landmark in the brain. This study aimed to investigate the distinctive signal of the paracentral lobule (PL) on T1-weighted images (T1WIs; the white PL sign) and evaluate its usefulness as a new method of identifying the central sulcus.

Methods

T1WIs of the brain of 96 participants (age, 58.9 ± 17.9 years; range, 8–87 years) scanned at 3-T MR system were retrospectively reviewed. First, we qualitatively analyzed the signal of the cortex of the PL by comparing it with that of the ipsilateral superior frontal gyrus on a 4-point grading score. Second, we compared the cortical signal intensity and gray/white-matter contrast between the PL and superior frontal gyrus. Third, we evaluated the usefulness of the PL signal for identifying the central sulcus.

Results

The PL cortex was either mildly hyperintense (grade 2) or definitely hyperintense (grade 3) in comparison with that of superior frontal cortex in all participants. The signal intensity of the PL cortex was significantly higher than that of the superior frontal cortex (p < 0.001), whereas the gray/white-matter contrast of the PL was weaker than that of the superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001). The central sulci were identified with 94.3% accuracy (181/192) using the new method.

Conclusion

The white PL sign may be helpful in identifying the central sulcus, and this approach can be recognized as a new method for identification of the central sulcus.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the participants of this study.

Funding

Partial financial support was received from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI grant no.19 K17150.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, The University of Tokyo, 1-2-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan

    Shinichi Cho, Ryo Kurokawa, Wataru Gonoi, Moto Nakaya, Naoya Sakamoto, Nana Fujita, Satoru Kamio, Hiroaki Koyama & Osamu Abe

  2. Department of Radiology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

    Akifumi Hagiwara

  3. Department of Radiology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan

    Harushi Mori

  4. Clinical Research Promotion Center, Biostatistics Unit, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Takuya Kawahara

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  1. Shinichi Cho
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  2. Ryo Kurokawa
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  3. Akifumi Hagiwara
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  4. Wataru Gonoi
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Correspondence to Akifumi Hagiwara.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Cho, S., Kurokawa, R., Hagiwara, A. et al. Localization of the central sulcus using the distinctive high signal intensity of the paracentral lobule on T1-weighted images. Neuroradiology 64, 289–299 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-021-02729-4

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