Could Autism Spectrum Disorder Be Associated With Craniosynostosis?
Megan E H Still1, Amelia Alberts2, Prianca Nagda2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida.
Insights
This study found no significant differences in skull measurements between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and controls. Craniosynostosis patients with ASD also showed no distinct cranial vault measurements, suggesting incidental diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- Developmental neuroscience
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Craniosynostosis is a pediatric condition with varied symptoms, from cosmetic issues to intracranial hypertension.
- The relationship between craniosynostosis and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare skull vault measurements in pediatric patients with ASD and craniosynostosis.
- To identify potential abnormal findings in ASD patients related to synostotic changes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric head CT scans.
- Comparison of cranial vault measurements between groups: craniosynostosis, ASD, and controls.
- Analysis of sagittal and metopic craniosynostosis cases.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in cranial vault measurements were found between patients with ASD and controls.
- Patients with craniosynostosis showed significant differences in specific measurements compared to controls.
- No significant measurement differences were observed between craniosynostosis patients with and without ASD.
Conclusions:
- Cranial vault measurements do not significantly differ between patients with ASD and controls.
- Co-occurring ASD in craniosynostosis patients did not yield significantly different cranial measurements.
- The co-occurrence of ASD and craniosynostosis is likely incidental rather than causal.
Introduction:
Craniosynostosis is a common pediatric condition that results in variable symptoms that range from asymptomatic cosmetic deformities to severe signs of intracranial hypertension. Little is understood about the relationship between craniosynostosis and neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental symptoms, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to compare skull vault measurements between patients with ASD and craniosynostosis to determine if those with ASD have abnormal findings related to synostotic changes.
Methods:
The authors performed a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with CT scans of the head to compare several cranial vault measurements between children with craniosynostosis, those with ASD, and those with neither diagnosis.
Results:
One hundred ninety-eight patients' CT scans were reviewed. Of those with sagittal craniosynostosis, significant differences were found in cephalic index, interparietal distance, intercoronal distance, and metopic severity index between controls and those with craniosynostosis, but not between controls and those with ASD, nor between those with craniosynostosis with or without ASD. Of those with metopic craniosynostosis, significant differences were found in metopic angle, interparietal distance, intercoronal distance, and metopic severity index between controls and those with craniosynostosis, but not between controls and those with ASD, nor between those with craniosynostosis with or without ASD. There were no significant measurement differences between those with craniosynostosis alone and those with craniosynostosis and ASD diagnosis in either type of craniosynostosis.
Conclusions:
No significant differences were found in cranial vault measurements of patients with ASD versus controls. Among patients with craniosynostosis, those who also had ASD did not have significantly different measurements, although the population was small. It is likely that the 2 diagnoses are incidental rather than causal.
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