Brain Magnetic Resonance Findings in 117 Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Under 5 Years Old

Overview

Journal Brain Sci

Publisher MDPI

Date 2020 Oct 21

PMID 33081247

Citations 8

Authors

Magali Jane Rochat

Giacomo Distefano

Monica Maffei

Francesco Toni

Annio Posar

Maria Cristina Scaduto

Federica Resca

Cinzia Cameli

Elena Bacchelli

Elena Maestrini

Paola Visconti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We examined the potential benefits of neuroimaging measurements across the first 5 years of life in detecting early comorbid or etiological signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In particular, we analyzed the prevalence of neuroradiologic findings in routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of a group of 117 ASD children younger than 5 years old. These data were compared to those reported in typically developing (TD) children. MRI findings in children with ASD were analyzed in relation to their cognitive level, severity of autistic symptoms, and the presence of electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities. The MRI was rated abnormal in 55% of children with ASD with a significant prevalence in the high-functioning subgroup compared to TD children. We report significant incidental findings of mega cisterna magna, ventricular anomalies and abnormal white matter signal intensity in ASD without significant associations between these MRI findings and EEG features. Based on these results we discuss the role that brain MRI may play in the diagnostic procedure of ASD.

Citing Articles

Association between Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trace Elements, and Intracranial Fluid Spaces.

Mlinaric M, Jekovec Vrhovsek M, Neubauer D, Stiglic A, Osredkar J Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(15).

PMID: 39125639 PMC: 11311321. DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158050.

Genomic analysis of 116 autism families strengthens known risk genes and highlights promising candidates.

Viggiano M, Ceroni F, Visconti P, Posar A, Scaduto M, Sandoni L NPJ Genom Med. 2024; 9(1):21.

PMID: 38519481 PMC: 10959942. DOI: 10.1038/s41525-024-00411-1.

Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2023: A Challenge Still Open.

Posar A, Visconti P Turk Arch Pediatr. 2023; 58(6):566-571.

PMID: 37850666 PMC: 10724724. DOI: 10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2023.23194.

Brain perivascular spaces and autism: clinical and pathogenic implications from an innovative volumetric MRI study.

Sotgiu M, Jacono A, Barisano G, Saderi L, Cavassa V, Montella A Front Neurosci. 2023; 17:1205489.

PMID: 37425010 PMC: 10328421. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1205489.

Viruses and autism: A Bi-mutual cause and effect.

Al-Beltagi M, Saeed N, Elbeltagi R, Bediwy A, Aftab S, Alhawamdeh R World J Virol. 2023; 12(3):172-192.

PMID: 37396705 PMC: 10311578. DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v12.i3.172.

References

Bosemani T, Orman G, Boltshauser E, Tekes A, Huisman T, Poretti A . Congenital abnormalities of the posterior fossa. Radiographics. 2015; 35(1):200-20. DOI: 10.1148/rg.351140038. View

Glasson E, Bower C, Petterson B, de Klerk N, Chaney G, Hallmayer J . Perinatal factors and the development of autism: a population study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004; 61(6):618-27. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.618. View

Elsabbagh M, Divan G, Koh Y, Kim Y, Kauchali S, Marcin C . Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Res. 2012; 5(3):160-79. PMC: 3763210. DOI: 10.1002/aur.239. View

Heier L, Bauer C, Schwartz L, Zimmerman R, Morgello S, Deck M . Large Virchow-Robin spaces: MR-clinical correlation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1989; 10(5):929-36. PMC: 8335297. View

Zimmer E, Lowenstein L, Bronshtein M, Goldsher D, Aharon-Peretz J . Clinical significance of isolated mega cisterna magna. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2007; 276(5):487-90. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-007-0369-6. View

Hendren R, De Backer I, Pandina G . Review of neuroimaging studies of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders from the past 10 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2000; 39(7):815-28. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-200007000-00010. View

Bax M, Tydeman C, Flodmark O . Clinical and MRI correlates of cerebral palsy: the European Cerebral Palsy Study. JAMA. 2006; 296(13):1602-8. DOI: 10.1001/jama.296.13.1602. View

Conti E, Calderoni S, Marchi V, Muratori F, Cioni G, Guzzetta A . The first 1000 days of the autistic brain: a systematic review of diffusion imaging studies. Front Hum Neurosci. 2015; 9:159. PMC: 4374458. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00159. View

Cadman T, Eklund H, Howley D, Hayward H, Clarke H, Findon J . Caregiver burden as people with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder transition into adolescence and adulthood in the United Kingdom. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012; 51(9):879-88. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.06.017. View

10.

Conti E, Mitra J, Calderoni S, Pannek K, Shen K, Pagnozzi A . Network over-connectivity differentiates autism spectrum disorder from other developmental disorders in toddlers: A diffusion MRI study. Hum Brain Mapp. 2017; 38(5):2333-2344. PMC: 6866938. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23520. View

11.

Haar S, Berman S, Behrmann M, Dinstein I . Anatomical Abnormalities in Autism?. Cereb Cortex. 2014; 26(4):1440-52. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhu242. View

12.

Lewis J, Evans A, Pruett Jr J, Botteron K, McKinstry R, Zwaigenbaum L . The Emergence of Network Inefficiencies in Infants With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2017; 82(3):176-185. PMC: 5524449. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.03.006. View

13.

Shen M, Nordahl C, Young G, Wootton-Gorges S, Lee A, Liston S . Early brain enlargement and elevated extra-axial fluid in infants who develop autism spectrum disorder. Brain. 2013; 136(Pt 9):2825-35. PMC: 3754460. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt166. View

14.

Levman J, Vasung L, MacDonald P, Rowley S, Stewart N, Lim A . Regional volumetric abnormalities in pediatric autism revealed by structural magnetic resonance imaging. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2018; 71:34-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.08.001. View

15.

Volkmar F, McPartland J . From Kanner to DSM-5: autism as an evolving diagnostic concept. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2013; 10:193-212. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153710. View

16.

Zeglam A, Al-Ogab M, Al-Shaftery T . MRI or not to MRI! Should brain MRI be a routine investigation in children with autistic spectrum disorders?. Acta Neurol Belg. 2014; 115(3):351-4. DOI: 10.1007/s13760-014-0384-x. View

17.

Rollins N, Deline C, Morriss M . Prevalence and clinical significance of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces in childhood. Radiology. 1993; 189(1):53-7. DOI: 10.1148/radiology.189.1.7690491. View

18.

Anagnostou E, Taylor M . Review of neuroimaging in autism spectrum disorders: what have we learned and where we go from here. Mol Autism. 2011; 2(1):4. PMC: 3102613. DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-2-4. View

19.

Cooper A, Friedlaender E, Levy S, Shekdar K, Bradford A, Wells K . The Implications of Brain MRI in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Child Neurol. 2016; 31(14):1611-1616. DOI: 10.1177/0883073816665548. View

20.

Akbari S, Limbrick Jr D, McKinstry R, Altaye M, Ragan D, Yuan W . Periventricular hyperintensity in children with hydrocephalus. Pediatr Radiol. 2015; 45(8):1189-97. PMC: 4512883. DOI: 10.1007/s00247-015-3298-8. View