Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of the lateral geniculate nucleus volume and height in patients with glaucoma: a Meta-analysis

? AIM: To evaluate the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) volume and height using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in glaucoma patients. ? METHODS: Literatures retrieval was carried out through PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Studies that compared the volume and height of LGN in glaucoma patients with that in control subjects were included. The volume and height of LGN were extracted from the included studies. The Review Manager 5.4.1 software was used for the Meta-analysis. ? RESULTS: This Meta-analysis included 10 cross-sectional studies, including the eyes of 223 glaucoma patients and 185 healthy controls. Compared with the control subjects, the volume and height of LGN in glaucoma patients measured by MRI were significantly reduced {-29.13 mm3 , 95% [confidence interval (CI):-44.82 to-13.43, P=0.0003;-0.61 mm, 95%CI:-0.78 to-0.44, P<0.00001, respectively]}. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the differences of LGN volume and height between glaucoma patients and control subjects in the older group were smaller than that in the younger group, and LGN volume decreased with the increase of glaucoma severity. ? CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the volume and height of LGN are decreased in glaucoma patients, and LGN volume can be considered a parameter of glaucoma severity.

Automated summary

This study aims to evaluate the volume and height of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in glaucoma patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A meta-analysis of 10 cross-sectional studies showed that compared to control subjects, the volume and height of LGN in glaucoma patients measured by MRI were significantly reduced. Subgroup analysis revealed that the differences in LGN volume and height were smaller in the older group compared to the younger group, and LGN volume decreased with increasing glaucoma severity.