Analysis and characterization of interhypothalamic adhesions in adults: No longer only a pediatric finding.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Inter-hypothalamic adhesions (IHAs) are parenchymal tissue bridges traversing the third ventricle, previously reported only in the pediatric population. We aim to understand the prevalence of IHA in the adult population, assess their size and location, and ultimately investigate whether IHA volumes correlate with age.

Materials and methods: Patients who underwent routine high-resolution 3D T2WI MRI studies of the temporal bone/internal auditory canal at an otolaryngology clinic between 2008 and 2014 were consecutively selected. The presence of IHAs was confirmed when a parenchymal structure could be traced across the third ventricle, connecting bilateral hypothalamus, and was visible in at least two planes. They were classified based on their location within the third ventricle, considering their connection with hypothalamic nuclei. Patient clinical information were collected from electronic charts. The prevalence and volumes of IHAs were calculated. Associations between age and IHA volume, as well as between IHA type, age, volume, and gender, were analyzed.

Results: 779 patients, with a mean age of 54.7 years were included. Among them, 44 IHAs were identified within 41 patients, resulting in a prevalence of 5.26% in our cohort. Type 1 IHA was the most frequently encountered type, comprising 70.5% of all cases. No significant correlation was observed between IHA volumes and age. Additionally, no associations were found between IHA type and age, volume, or gender.

Conclusion: IHAs are not exclusive to the pediatric population; they are also present in adults, with a prevalence of 5.26% in patients undergoing temporal bone/internal auditory canal MRI.