title: Hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis in neurogenetic syndromes.
abstract: There are conflicting reports on the relationship between cerebellar vermal lobule hypoplasia and autism. Using quantitative magnetic resonance image analysis, we measured the cerebellar vermis in 125 normal individuals with a broad age range and 102 patients with a variety of neurogenetic abnormalities. We conclude that hypoplasia of cerebellar vermal lobules VI and VII is a nonspecific finding that even occurs in several conditions with-out autistic behavior. This suggests that it is not a specific neuroanantomical marker for autism, nor is cerebellar dysgenesis likely to be solely responsible for clinical autistic behaviors.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center and Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, Omaha 68198-5430, USA.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bodensteiner
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kimberling
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hutchings
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations; D013577:Syndrome