Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Anomalies in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Abstract

Patients with classic FAS have a high incidence of midline brain anomalies. This finding is consistent with the concept that the midline CNS is a developmental field that is particularly susceptible to the teratogenic effects of alcohol. Furthermore, patients with more severe facial dysmorphologic characteristics are more likely to have midline brain anomalies. In addition, we observed a high incidence of micrencephaly with a wide range of severity.

Radiological Findings on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Healthy Controls

“…No subjects in the present sample had agenesis of the corpus callosum, contrary to past case studies (Johnson et al, ; Mattson et al, ; Riley et al, ; Swayze et al, ). Callosal hypoplasia (thinning or shortening) is frequently reported in the FASD literature, but is not systematically defined or routinely reported in clinical practice as it is typically considered to be a manifestation of volume loss or ventricular enlargement rather than an independent finding (unlike callosal agenesis which is considered an independent abnormality of embryonic development).…”

Radiological Findings on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Healthy Controls

“…No subjects in the present sample had agenesis of the corpus callosum, contrary to past case studies (Johnson et al, ; Mattson et al, ; Riley et al, ; Swayze et al, ). Callosal hypoplasia (thinning or shortening) is frequently reported in the FASD literature, but is not systematically defined or routinely reported in clinical practice as it is typically considered to be a manifestation of volume loss or ventricular enlargement rather than an independent finding (unlike callosal agenesis which is considered an independent abnormality of embryonic development).…”

Callosal Thickness Reductions Relate to Facial Dysmorphology in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

“…We revealed significant FASD effects on callosal thickness and area measures in both anterior (genu/rostral body) and posterior sections (isthmus/splenium). These findings are consistent with previous reports that showed reduced CC area in FASD (Riley et al., 1995; Sowell et al., 2001; Swayze et al., 1997) and are in keeping with DTI studies of fetal alcohol effects on the white matter microstructure of the CC (Lebel et al., 2008; Li et al., 2009; Ma et al., 2005; Sowell et al., 2008; Wozniak et al., 2006, 2009). Although controlling for total white matter volume served to attenuate the results of several analyses, many remained significant after controlling for age, gender, and total white matter, suggesting that the developing CC may be especially sensitive to the damaging effects of alcohol relative to the brain in general.…”

Early Maternal Alcohol Consumption Alters Hippocampal DNA Methylation, Gene Expression and Volume in a Mouse Model

“…MRI revealed enlargement of lateral ventricles in the ethanol-exposed offspring. Similar results have been seen in MRIs also in other FASD animal models [ 49 ], [ 50 ], [ 82 ], [ 83 ], [ 84 ], [ 85 ] and in clinical studies of prenatal alcohol exposure [ 86 ], [ 87 ]. Alcohol-induced facial asymmetry [ 88 ] and altered symmetry of brain structures [ 65 ], [ 89 ], [ 90 ] have been observed in human studies.…”

Radiological Findings on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Healthy Controls

“…No subjects in the present sample had agenesis of the corpus callosum, contrary to past case studies (Johnson et al, ; Mattson et al, ; Riley et al, ; Swayze et al, ). Callosal hypoplasia (thinning or shortening) is frequently reported in the FASD literature, but is not systematically defined or routinely reported in clinical practice as it is typically considered to be a manifestation of volume loss or ventricular enlargement rather than an independent finding (unlike callosal agenesis which is considered an independent abnormality of embryonic development).…”

Callosal Thickness Reductions Relate to Facial Dysmorphology in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

“…We revealed significant FASD effects on callosal thickness and area measures in both anterior (genu/rostral body) and posterior sections (isthmus/splenium). These findings are consistent with previous reports that showed reduced CC area in FASD (Riley et al., 1995; Sowell et al., 2001; Swayze et al., 1997) and are in keeping with DTI studies of fetal alcohol effects on the white matter microstructure of the CC (Lebel et al., 2008; Li et al., 2009; Ma et al., 2005; Sowell et al., 2008; Wozniak et al., 2006, 2009). Although controlling for total white matter volume served to attenuate the results of several analyses, many remained significant after controlling for age, gender, and total white matter, suggesting that the developing CC may be especially sensitive to the damaging effects of alcohol relative to the brain in general.…”

Early Maternal Alcohol Consumption Alters Hippocampal DNA Methylation, Gene Expression and Volume in a Mouse Model

“…MRI revealed enlargement of lateral ventricles in the ethanol-exposed offspring. Similar results have been seen in MRIs also in other FASD animal models [ 49 ], [ 50 ], [ 82 ], [ 83 ], [ 84 ], [ 85 ] and in clinical studies of prenatal alcohol exposure [ 86 ], [ 87 ]. Alcohol-induced facial asymmetry [ 88 ] and altered symmetry of brain structures [ 65 ], [ 89 ], [ 90 ] have been observed in human studies.…”

Radiological Findings on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Healthy Controls

“…No subjects in the present sample had agenesis of the corpus callosum, contrary to past case studies (Johnson et al, ; Mattson et al, ; Riley et al, ; Swayze et al, ). Callosal hypoplasia (thinning or shortening) is frequently reported in the FASD literature, but is not systematically defined or routinely reported in clinical practice as it is typically considered to be a manifestation of volume loss or ventricular enlargement rather than an independent finding (unlike callosal agenesis which is considered an independent abnormality of embryonic development).…”

Callosal Thickness Reductions Relate to Facial Dysmorphology in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

“…We revealed significant FASD effects on callosal thickness and area measures in both anterior (genu/rostral body) and posterior sections (isthmus/splenium). These findings are consistent with previous reports that showed reduced CC area in FASD (Riley et al., 1995; Sowell et al., 2001; Swayze et al., 1997) and are in keeping with DTI studies of fetal alcohol effects on the white matter microstructure of the CC (Lebel et al., 2008; Li et al., 2009; Ma et al., 2005; Sowell et al., 2008; Wozniak et al., 2006, 2009). Although controlling for total white matter volume served to attenuate the results of several analyses, many remained significant after controlling for age, gender, and total white matter, suggesting that the developing CC may be especially sensitive to the damaging effects of alcohol relative to the brain in general.…”

Early Maternal Alcohol Consumption Alters Hippocampal DNA Methylation, Gene Expression and Volume in a Mouse Model

“…MRI revealed enlargement of lateral ventricles in the ethanol-exposed offspring. Similar results have been seen in MRIs also in other FASD animal models [ 49 ], [ 50 ], [ 82 ], [ 83 ], [ 84 ], [ 85 ] and in clinical studies of prenatal alcohol exposure [ 86 ], [ 87 ]. Alcohol-induced facial asymmetry [ 88 ] and altered symmetry of brain structures [ 65 ], [ 89 ], [ 90 ] have been observed in human studies.…”