In normal aging ventricular system never attains pathological values of Evans' index

• Published in: Oncotarget 2016-03, Vol.7 (11), p.11860-11863
• Main Authors: Missori, Paolo, Rughetti, Aurelia, Peschillo, Simone, Gualdi, Gianfranco, Di Biasi, Claudio, Nofroni, Italo, Marinelli, Lucio, Fattapposta, Francesco, Currà, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - physiology; Cerebral Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Ventricles - physiopathology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure - diagnostic imaging; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Nervous System Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Nervous System Diseases - pathology; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results; Research Paper: Gerotarget (Focus on Aging); Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1949-2553; 1949-2553
• DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7644

Ventricular enlargement in normal aging frequently forces the radiological diagnosis of hydrocephalus, but the reliability of Evans' index as a radiological marker of abnormal ventricular enlargement (values > 0.30) during aging is not assessed. Here we analyze ventricular size during aging and the reliability of Evans' index as a radiological marker of abnormal ventricular enlargement. We calculated Evans' index in the axial Computed Tomography scans of 1221 consecutive individuals (aged 45-101 years) from an emergency department. Stratified analysis of one-year cohorts showed that the mean Evans' index value per class was invariably < 0.30. Roughly one out five Computed Tomography scans was associated with Evans' index values > 0.30 and Evans' index values increased with age. The risk of having an Evans' index value > 0.30 increased by 7.8% per year of age (p < 0.001) and males were at 83.9% greater risk than females (p < 0.001). Overall, this study shows that normal aging enlarges the ventricular system, but never causes abnormal ventricular enlargement. Evans' index values > 0.30 should reflect an underlying neurological condition in every individual.