Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) combined with diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in the brain function and volumetric imaging in children with autism

Objective: To explore the application value of DTI combined with DTT in brain function and volume in children with autism. Methods: A total of 616 children with autism diagnosed from January 2020 to December 2022 (ASD group) and 91 healthy children with age and gender matching (control group) were included in the study. All subjects underwent DTI and DTT examinations. The DTI-DTT examination was conducted to analyze the Fractional Anisotropy (FA) values of key brain regions such as the corpus callosum and internal capsule, and the correlation and diagnostic efficacy were analyzed with the scores of the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Results: The total scores of ABC and each factor in the ASD group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). The FA values of the knee joint and compressed part of the corpus callosum as well as the anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule in the ASD group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). Relevant analysis showed that the FA values of the anterior and posterior limbs of the capsule in the ASD group were moderately positively correlated with the scores of sensory and body movement factors in the ABC scale (p<0.01). The FA values of the knee and compression parts of the corpus callosum were also moderately positively correlated with the communication and connection factor scores (p<0.01). ROC curve analysis indicated that the FA values of the above-mentioned brain regions had a high diagnostic value for ASD (AUC values were all >0.64). Conclusion: The combination of DTI and DTT effectively reveals the microstructure abnormalities of the main white matter pathways (such as the corpus callosum and internal capsule) in children with autism. These abnormalities are significantly correlated with specific behavioral symptoms. This combined imaging technology provides important neuroimaging evidence for the early objective diagnosis and rehabilitation intervention of children with autism.