Anatomic study of cerebral precentral sulcus by magnetic resonance imaging and its clinical significance

Objective: To observe the morphological features of the cerebral precentral sulcus on the axial and sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods: The continuous axial and sagittal MRI of 30 healthy adults heads were obtained to identify,localize and classify the cerebral precentral sulcus by using the e-film workstation and Adobe Photoshop CS 8.0 software.Results: There were three typical patterns of the precentral sulcus:the unitary-pattern,dicho-pattern and tri-pattern,and the detection rates were 16.67%,63.33%,and 20.00%,respectively.The unitary-pattern appeared an irregular and curve shape on the axial imaging,and demonstrated a slightly "S" linear shape from the posterosuperior to the anterioroinferior on the sagittal imaging.The dicho-pattern appeared two different and short sulcus on the axial imaging,and demonstrated two "S" linear shape from the posterosuperior to the anterioroinferior on the sagittal imaging.The tri-pattern appeared three short sulci on the cross section,and the inferior precentral sulci appeared a slightly oblique longitudinal "Ω" shape from the posterosuperior to the anterioroinferior on the sagittal imaging.The formation of the dicho-pattern and tri-pattern was the conjunction between the posterior part of the middle frontal gyrus and the anterior part precentral gyrus,as well as a minor gyrus from the middle frontal gyrus,respectively.Conclusions: The morphological features of the cerebral precentral sulcus on the axial and sagittal MRI of brain can provide anatomic evidence for the diagnosis and selection of surgical approaches to the diseases at the posterior part of the frontal lobe.