Three-dimensional mapping of the lateral ventricles in autism.
In this study, a computational mapping technique was used to examine the three-dimensional profile of the lateral ventricles in autism. T1-weighted three-dimensional magnetic resonance images of the brain were acquired from 20 males with autism (age: 10.1+/-3.5 years) and 22 male control subjects (age: 10.7+/-2.5 years). The lateral ventricles were delineated manually and ventricular volumes were compared between the two groups. Ventricular traces were also converted into statistical three-dimensional maps, based on anatomical surface meshes. These maps were used to visualize regional morphological differences in the thickness of the lateral ventricles between patients and controls. Although ventricular volumes measured using traditional methods did not differ significantly between groups, statistical surface maps revealed subtle, highly localized reductions in ventricular size in patients with autism in the left frontal and occipital horns. These localized reductions in the lateral ventricles may result from exaggerated brain growth early in life.
Vidal
Christine N
CN
Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Brain Mapping Division, Department Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Nicolson
Rob
R
Boire
Jean-Yves
JY
Barra
Vincent
V
DeVito
Timothy J
TJ
Hayashi
Kiralee M
KM
Geaga
Jennifer A
JA
Drost
Dick J
DJ
Williamson
Peter C
PC
Rajakumar
Nagalingam
N
Toga
Arthur W
AW
Thompson
Paul M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values