title: The Implications of Brain MRI in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: Our objective was to describe the types of providers who refer children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the referral reason, and MRI results. The most common referral reasons were autism spectrum disorder with seizures (33.7%), autism spectrum disorder alone (26.3%), and autism spectrum disorder with abnormal neurologic examination or preexisting finding (24%). Neurology (62.5%), general pediatric (22.3%), and developmental/behavioral practitioners (8.9%) referred the most patients. The prevalence of definite pathology was highest in children referred for autism spectrum disorder with abnormal neurologic examination/preexisting finding (26.2%, 95% CI: 16.8%-36%), headaches (25.7%, 95% CI: 11.2%-40.2%), or seizures (22%, 95% CI: 14.6%-29.5%), and was lowest in children referred for autism spectrum disorder alone (6.5%, 95% CI: 1.5%-11.6%). We concluded that there is a low prevalence of definite pathology in children with autism spectrum disorder undergoing brain MRI. In children with abnormal neurologic examination or preexisting finding, seizures, or headaches, one may consider performing brain MRI given the higher prevalence of pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA acooper1@nshs.edu.|Pediatric Emergency Department, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Alison S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Eron
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedlaender
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Karuna V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Shekdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea Bennett
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mollen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives
keywords: MRI brain; MRI referral; autism spectrum disorder; pediatric; sedation