Low-Functioning Autism and Nonsyndromic Intellectual Disability: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Findings. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Erbetta, Alessandra; Bulgheroni, Sara; Contarino, Valeria Elisa; Chiapparini, Luisa; Esposito, Silvia; Annunziata, Silvia; Riva, Daria
• Is Part Of: Journal of child neurology. Volume 30:Number 12(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1658
• Page End: 1663
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- autistic spectrum disorder -- intellectual disability -- mega cisterna magna -- corpus callosum; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1177/0883073815578523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0738

Abstract

Previous neuroradiologic studies reported a high incidence of abnormalities in low-functioning autistic children. In this population, it is difficult to know which abnormality depends on autism itself and which is related to intellectual disability associated with autism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of neuroradiologic abnormalities in low-functioning autistic children compared to Intellectual Quotient and age-matched nonsyndromic children, using the same set of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. MRI was rated as abnormal in 44% of autistic and 54% of children with intellectual disability. The main results were mega cisterna magna in autism and hypoplastic corpus callosum in intellectual disability. These abnormalities are morphologically visible signs of altered brain development. These findings, more frequent than expected, are not specific to the 2 conditions. Although MRI cannot be considered mandatory, it allows an in-depth clinical assessment in nonsyndromic intellectual-disabled and autistic children.