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What Causes Mild Sulci Widening?

Posted on Thu, 25 Feb 2016

Question: 33 yr old healthy asymptomatic and high cognition individual .. On a check up MRI showed mild sulci widening .. Can sulci widening in young be just an anatomic variant rather than a manifestation of a degenerative desease.
Can this be only incidental / congenital since usually sulci widening shows up on elederly .. Can it in a healthy person be a normal variant ?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It may be a normal variant in a healthy person &it is not a serious finding

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Mild sulci widening is generally due to cerebral cortical atrophy.It is generally an age related finding.
It may be an incidental finding and it is an early finding considering your age.
Atrophic changes in brain are also associated with other findings like dilated ventricles etc.
It may be a normal variant in a healthy person and it is not a serious finding.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (11 hours later)

Dear Doc,

In your practice have you seen cases with healthy individuals with high cognitive functions with widened sulci and at my age ? I know it is not common but when it is a normal variant then it may not be pathological ?
If this is normal anatomical variant ( maybe congenital) would it likely to be stable over the years or am i on the way for sure towards dementia (likely prognosis?)
Have you seen cases of people living all their lives with widened sulci at young age and did not eventually develop dementia later in life ?

This issue came to me as a XXXXXXX knowing that by all tests i have high IQ and i am not symptomatic at all. I exercise 5 times a week and do not drink

Regards,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please upload images for better interpretation.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Please upload images for better interpretation.You may upload through attachments.
Generally it is not a serious issue.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (29 minutes later)

I have downloaded the files on google drive .

Username : YYYY@YYYY
Password: Wsedplok3512$

Please install the MD viewer ( included in the files) ... If DICON does not support it .. Thanks

The file name is ' latest MRI Dr. Frank'

Also there is a file called HDCM which had an MRI done a week before the latest.

Thanks for your kind feedback

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Images shows mild cerebral cortical atrophy.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

I have gone through all the images.It shows mild cerebral cortical atrophy and there is focally prominent gyri and sulci at one place.
Findings are early in your case.
I don't think it is a significant finding as you have good I.Q.
It is difficult to comment on exact reason,it may be congenital,age related etc.
Please don't worry about this,it is not serious.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (28 minutes later)

What is the prognosis for this if this were congenital and not pathological ? Am i bound to have dementia in the long run ?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It is expected to remain as such but you may need follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

It is expected to remain as such but you may need follow up.
It doesn't necessarily mean that it will progress to dementia.Dementia is due to many factors.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar