Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Resident at pediatric department, faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
2
professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
3
Lecturer of Diagnostic Radiology , Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
4
Lecturer of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in early childhood, its key features are deficit in social communication and social interaction accompanied by restricted and repetitive behaviors. Numerous non-invasive imaging techniques have been developed to identify the distinctive brain features of ASD. Some researches revealed high frequency of minor abnormalities/variations on brain MRIs of autistic individuals.
Objectives:evaluation of brain MRI abnormalities/variations in relation to ASD symptoms and severity.
Patients and methods: This study included 50 children diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, they had follow up visit to Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Clinic at Minia University Children Hospital, from January 2023 to January 2024. All patients were subjected to complete medical history, thorough clinical examination, evaluation of autism symptoms severity by The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale–Third Edition (GARS-3), and brain imaging through 3Tesla brain MRI diffusion.
Results: Most children with ASD had normal MRI findings. The most common normal MRI finding/variant in these children were benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space and persistent cavum septum pellucidum. Gilliam total score, social interaction and communication scores were significantly higher in autistic children with Mega cisterna magna in MRI brain, while stereotyping score was higher in children with benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space.
Conclusions: Brain MRI may be useful in ASD to determine the severity of symptoms. It may be beneficial for future research on determining the etiology/pathogenesis of ASD. Brain MRI may be useful in identifying early presymptomatic ASD children.
Keywords:Autism, Children, MRI findings, symptoms, and severity.
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