Normative values of ventricular indices of brain using computed tomography scans in Bangladeshi adults: a cross-sectional study

Introduction Accurate normative values for ventricular indices are required for distinguishing between normal and pathological conditions. The objective of the present study was to establish normative values for ventricular indices in healthy Bangladeshi adult population. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, from January to December 2023. A total of 314 healthy adult participants (161 males and 153 females) underwent brain CT scans to measure key ventricular indices. The indices measured included the Third Ventricular Width (TVW), Third Ventricular Index (TVI), Antero-Posterior and Transverse Diameter of the Fourth Ventricle, Bifrontal Index (BFI), Evans Index (EI), Bicaudate Index (BCI), and Huckman Number (HN). Results The average age of participants was 38.8 (SD 14) years, age range was 18 to 80 years. The mean (SD) values for ventricular indices were: TVW 3.74 (1.46) mm, TVI 0.032 (0.006), Antero-Posterior Diameter of the Fourth Ventricle 6.519 (0.964) mm, Transverse Diameter of the Fourth Ventricle 11.873 (1.541) mm, BFI 0.312 (0.053), EI 0.253 (0.048), BCI 0.122 (0.030), and HN 44.778 (5.223). Male participants showed significantly larger transverse diameters of the fourth ventricle (12.185 mm vs. 11.561 mm, p < 0.001), higher bicaudate indices (0.129 vs. 0.115, p = 0.044), and elevated Huckman numbers (46.235 vs. 43.153, p < 0.001) compared to females. Post-hoc analysis showed that ventricular sizes were larger in older participants, especially in the 61-70 years group. Conclusions Men generally have slightly larger ventricular structures than women and ventricular size increases with age, however, most of the indices showed no significant sex-based differences.