Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu Olan Çocuklarda Otomatik Segmentasyon Yöntemi Kullanılarak Beyin Hacimlerinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB) olan bireylerde beyin yapılarının hacimsel özelliklerini incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. OSB grubu ile sağlıklı bireyler karşılaştırılarak, bozukluğun beyin morfolojisi üzerindeki etkileri değerlendirilecektir. Hacimsel farklılıkların belirlenmesi, OSB'nin nöroanatomik yansımalarının anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunacaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: ASD'li 33 çocuk ve 33 sağlıklı kontrol grubunun beyin manyetik rezonans (MR) görüntüleri analiz edilerek karşılaştırılmıştır. MR görüntülerini işlemek ve hacimsel farklılıkları tespit etmek için VolBrain otomatik segmentasyon yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen ölçümler, ASD ve kontrol grupları arasındaki önemli hacimsel farklılıkları belirlemek için istatistiksel olarak analiz edilmiştir. Sonuçlar: Bu çalışmanın bulguları, ASD'li çocukların sağlıklı kontrol grubuna kıyasla serebrum, beyaz madde, gri madde, frontal lob, postcentral girus, amigdala, talamus, putamen ve hipokampüste önemli ölçüde daha büyük hacimler sergilediğini ortaya koymuştur (p < 0,05). Ancak, precentral girus, parietal lob ve kaudat çekirdeğin hacimlerinde gruplar arasında önemli bir fark gözlemlenmedi (p > 0,05). Sonuç: Sonuçlarımız, ASD semptomlarının, beyinin birçok bölgesini etkileyen yaygın hacimsel değişikliklerle ilişkili olabileceğini göstermektedir. Bu bakımdan, çalışma ASD'nin nöroanatomik temellerinin daha kapsamlı bir şekilde anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Otizm spektrum bozukluğu
• VolBrain
• Serebrum
• Beyaz madde
• Gri madde

Investigation of Cortical and Subcortical Brain Regional Volumes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Automated Segmentation

Öz

Aim: This study aimed to examine regional cortical and subcortical brain volume differences in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By comparing the ASD group with healthy individuals, the effects of the disorder on brain morphology will be evaluated. We hypothesized that children with ASD would exhibit increased volumes in selected cortical and subcortical brain regions. Material and Methods: The brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 33 children with ASD and 33 healthy controls were analyzed and compared. The VolBrain automated segmentation method was used to process the MRI and detect volumetric differences. The resulting measurements were statistically analyzed to identify significant volumetric differences between the ASD and control groups. Results: The findings of this study revealed that children with ASD exhibited significantly larger volumes in the cerebrum, white matter, grey matter, frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus, amygdala, thalamus, putamen, and hippocampus compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the groups in the volumes of the precentral gyrus, parietal lobe, and caudate nucleus (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The present findings indicate that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with widespread volumetric enlargement across both cortical and subcortical brain regions. These results contribute to a clearer characterization of the neuroanatomical profile of ASD and underscore the value of automated volumetric neuroimaging approaches for detecting disorder-related structural brain patterns.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• VolBrain
• Cerebrum
• White matter
• Grey matter

Kaynakça

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