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Computed tomography of the brain in children with early infantile autism
Insights
Cranial CT scans reveal progressive brain structure changes in autistic children, particularly around the third ventricle, with bifrontal CVI increasing with age in older children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Investigating cranial CT findings in early infantile autism is crucial for understanding potential etiological factors.
- This study compares brain structure metrics from CT scans of autistic children and neurotypical children.
Observation:
- 24 autistic children (3-17 years) and 179 neurotypical children underwent cranial CT scans.
- Participants were grouped by age: 3-5 (Group I), 6-9 (Group II), and 10-17 (Group III).
- Measurements included bifrontal CVI, bicaudate CVI, third ventricle width, and brain diameter ratios.
Findings:
- Bifrontal CVI was significantly higher in autistic children aged 10-17 compared to controls.
- Bicaudate CVI was significantly lower in autistic children aged 3-9.
- Third ventricle width increased with age in autistic children, showing a positive correlation with age and significantly wider in Groups II and III.
Implications:
- Findings suggest a progressive disorder affecting brain structures around the third and lateral ventricles in autistic children.
- Age-related changes in specific brain metrics may offer insights into autism's neurobiological underpinnings.
- Further research into these progressive structural changes could inform early diagnosis and intervention strategies.
Abstract:
In order to examine the cranial CT of autistic children and investigate the etiological significance of CT scan findings, the CT of the brain was surveyed in 24 children with early infantile autism (3 to 17 years with a mean age of 7.6), and 179 children with the normal CT despite their medical histories such as headaches or febrile convulsions. According to their ages, the autistic and normal children were divided into the following three groups: Group I (age ranging from 3 to 5), Group II (age: 6 to 9) and Group III (age: 10 to 17). There was no significant difference between the bifrontal CVI of the autistic children and that of the normal children. However, in Group III, the bifrontal CVI of the autistic children was significantly higher than that of the normal children. There was no significant difference between the bicaudate CVI of the autistic children and that of the normal children. However, in Groups I and II, the bicaudate CVI of the autistic children was significantly lower than that of the normal children. The maximum widths of the third ventricle showed no significant difference between the autistic and normal children. However, in Groups II and III, those of the autistic children were wider than those of the normal children. In the autistic children, as the age increases, the difference becomes significantly wider. A positive correlation was observed between the width of the third ventricle and ages of the autistic children. An examination of the right-left ratio of maximum transverse diameter of the brain showed that there was no significant difference between the autistic and normal children. The above-mentioned results (1)-4)) might suggest a progressive disorder of the brain structure surrounding the third ventricle or lateral ventricles in the autistic children.