Volumetric examination of the cerebellum and cortical visual centers in individuals with visual problems by automated segmentation method

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a clinical disease that develops as a result of an idiopathic ischemic process in the anterior region of the optic nerve and is characterized by symptoms such as decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, visual field loss and color vision disturbances. In this study, brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with NAION and healthy control subjects were analyzed and compared using automatic segmentation. The study included 15 NAION patients who applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Eye Polyclinic in the last 5 years and underwent MR imaging, and 15 healthy control who applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Hospital with symptoms such as dizziness or headache, who could not be diagnosed and underwent MR imaging. VolBrain method was used for volümetric analysis of brain MR images. Statistical evaluation of the findings was made using the Mann Whitney U test. As a result of the analysis, the volumes of cerebrum, gray and white matter, frontal lobe, medial frontal gyrus, occipital lobe, calcarine cortex, lingual gyrus, superior and medius occipital gyrus were significantly lower in NAION patients compared to control group (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in the volume analysis of the cerebellum (p > 0.05). In the lobules of the cerebellum, the cortical thickness of the right lobule X and the gray matter volume of the left lobule IX were found to be significantly lower in NAION patients compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.05), while no significant difference was found in the cortical thickness and gray matter volumes of the other lobules (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that NAION induces volumetric changes in both visual and non-visual regions of the cerebral cortex, but not in the cerebellum. These results suggest that the neurological effects of NAION lead to more pronounced involvement of brain structures, especially those directly related to visual functions. Keywords: Optic Neuropathy, Optic Nerve, Cerebellum, Volume, Cerebral Cortex