Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41953688›Full record

ReviewConsortium psychiatricum2026

Prenatal Ultrasound-Detected Structural Anomalies Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review.

Nazyar Khamenehei, Lyudmila Tokarskaya

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Consortium psychiatricum, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with a globally increasing prevalence. Early detection is crucial for effective intervention, yet current diagnostic methods often result in delays. Emerging research suggests that prenatal biomarkers, including structural anomalies detectable via ultrasound, may offer opportunities for earlier identification.

aimTo synthesize current evidence on prenatal ultrasound-detectable anomalies associated with ASD and assess their potential as early predictors.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2007 and 2025. Keywords included "autism spectrum disorder", "prenatal ultrasound", "fetal anomalies", "preeclampsia", "neurodevelopment" and "biomarkers". Priority was given to recent and high-quality studies, including systematic reviews and large cohort analyses. The selected articles were read in full, and their key findings were summarized in a narrative form. The synthesis focused on describing the scope of the existing evidence, the prenatal ultrasound findings reported in relation to ASD, and on highlighting recurrent patterns or notable differences between studies.

resultsSeveral studies report associations between ASD and prenatal anomalies such as ventriculomegaly, increased biparietal diameter, hyperechogenic kidneys, and congenital heart defects. However, these findings are not specific to ASD and show inconsistent predictive performance. Sensitivity and specificity vary widely across studies, and ethical concerns about overdiagnosis and disparities in access to care persist.

conclusionPrenatal ultrasound may contribute to early ASD risk identification but lacks the accuracy required for standalone diagnosis. Integrating ultrasound findings with genetic and postnatal data, along with standardized protocols and further research, is essential to improve its predictive value and clinical application.

Indexed as

autism spectrum disorderbiomarkersearly diagnosisfetal anomaliesneurodevelopmental disordersprenatal ultrasound

Identifiers

PMID41953688
PMCPMC13056236

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.