Gender and Hemispheric Differences in Epilepsy Diagnosed by Voxel-based Morphometry (VBM) Method: a Pilot Cortical Thickness Study

INTRODUCTION: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is a neuroimaging analysis technique that allows investigation of focal differences in brain anatomy, using the statistical approach of statistical parametric mapping. Gender changes are probably expressed in the human brain in the form of functional and anatomical organization. AIM: Our aim was to study gender differences and anatomical abnormalities in epilepsy patients (EP) by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods. METHODS: Cortical thickness analysis of whole brain was performed in 28 patients with EP and 30 controls for gender and hemispheric differences. RESULTS: Cortical thickness abnormalities were more widespread in left side of the brain in EP; while in female changes were mostly seen in temporal areas, frontal regions were more affected in male. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that gender and laterality are important factors determining the brain damage in EP.