title: Low-Functioning Autism and Nonsyndromic Intellectual Disability: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Findings.
abstract: Previous neuroradiologic studies reported a high incidence of abnormalities in low-functioning autistic children. In this population, it is difficult to know which abnormality depends on autism itself and which is related to intellectual disability associated with autism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of neuroradiologic abnormalities in low-functioning autistic children compared to Intellectual Quotient and age-matched nonsyndromic children, using the same set of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. MRI was rated as abnormal in 44% of autistic and 54% of children with intellectual disability. The main results were mega cisterna magna in autism and hypoplastic corpus callosum in intellectual disability. These abnormalities are morphologically visible signs of altered brain development. These findings, more frequent than expected, are not specific to the 2 conditions. Although MRI cannot be considered mandatory, it allows an in-depth clinical assessment in nonsyndromic intellectual-disabled and autistic children.
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy aerbetta@istituto-besta.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbetta
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulgheroni
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria Elisa
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Contarino
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiapparini
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Annunziata
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: autistic spectrum disorder; conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); corpus callosum; intellectual disability; mega cisterna magna