Findings of cranial MR spectroscopy and diffusion tensor MR in children with autism

Introduction and PurposeIt was aimed to determine findings of cranial Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), and relation of this findings with behavior problems in children with autism.Materials and MethodsAutism group contained 12 (3-15 years old), and control group contained 8 children (9-15 years old). All of the participants were male and none of them have any neurological disorders. No premedication were performed before MR study. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values for different regions were measured and recorded from DTI.Multivoxel spectroscopic imaging with medium echo (TE 135msn) at the basal ganglia plane was performed for 11 children in patient group and for the entire control group.Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) test was applied to patient group. Data were presented as frequency, mean ± standard deviation, Pearson correlation test was used for possible relationship.ResultsIn MRS imaging: decrease in right occipital white matter, and increase in lentiform nucleus for Ch/Cr; decrease in left insular cortex for NAA/Ch; decrease in right temporoparietal gyrus, left frontal white matter and in inferior frontal gyrus for NAA/Cr were determined (p<0.05). Metabolite ratio concentrations increased as scores of behavior problems, except social withdrawal scores. DTI results showed that FA values have been decreased in corpus callosum genu and splenium, both anterior internal capsule and left posterior internal capsule, right frontoparietal white matter area and in both middle cerebellar pedincule (p<0.05). FA values in left frontoparietal white matter area, right anterior internal capsule and in left cerebellar pedincule decreased while scores of behavior problems increased.ConclusionThere was a decrease in FA values in DTI for autism group, and a negative correlation was shown between FA values and scores of behavior problems. In MRS investigation, it was found positive correlation between metabolite concentration ratios in various regions and scores of behavior problems. MRS and DTI findings and their correlation with behavior problems make someone consider that there might be wide neuronal dysfunction or neuronal immaturity together with interruption in aksonal conductivity. But further studies are needed to explain this subject.