title: Abnormal white matter tracts resembling pencil fibers involving prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 47) in autism: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism is not correlated with any neuropathological hallmark as the brain of autistic individuals lack defined lesions. However, previous investigations have reported cortical heterotopias and local distortion of the cytoarchitecture of the neocortex in some cases of autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our patient was a 40-year-old white woman diagnosed at an early age with autism and mental retardation. Pencil fibers were present within the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 47) and its composition resembled that of the underlying white matter region. Pencil fibers encompassed most of the extent of the cortical grey matter and were populated by oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglial cells, but not by neurons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here we report a new cytoarchitectural abnormality that has not been previously described in autism. Future pathological examinations should keep in mind the potential presence of pencil fibers within the prefrontal cortex of cases with autism.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, USA.|Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA.
authors: Ezzat
authors: E
authors: Hashemi
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, USA.|Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA.
authors: Jeanelle
authors: J
authors: Ariza
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, USA.
authors: Mirna
authors: M
authors: Lechpammer
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, USA.|MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, USA.
authors: Stephen C
authors: SC
authors: Noctor
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, USA. vmartinezcerdeno@ucdavis.edu.|Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA. vmartinezcerdeno@ucdavis.edu.|MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, USA. vmartinezcerdeno@ucdavis.edu.
authors: Verónica
authors: V
authors: Martínez-Cerdeño
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Autism; Case report; Cerebral cortex; Human; Pathology; Pencil fibers; Prefrontal