ASSESSMENT OF BICAUDATE INDEX VALUES IN SIALKOT, PAKISTAN ADULT POPULATION USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY: A PROSPECTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: The bicaudate index (BCI) is a dimensionless ratio derived from CT that is a linear radiological measurement calculated by dividing the minimum distance between the heads of the caudate nuclei by the maximum internal skull diameter at the same level. The BCI accounts for the variability in skull size between individuals; normalizing for head size, the BCI gives a reproducible and directly comparable measure of central ventricular expansion and caudate atrophy. It is important for diagnosis in a range of diseases such as cerebral atrophy, hydrocephalus, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, cognitive decline, and is found to be increasing with age and disease load. Although clinically useful, age and sex-stratified normative CT reference values for BCI are not yet available for the adult population of Pakistan. Objective: To derive reference values of CT bicaudate index in normal adult population of Pakistan across different age and sex basis and to find out the effect of age and sex on BCI. Methods: