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Agenesis of Corpus Callosum

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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Synonyms

Acallosal syndrome; Callosotomy (surgical severing); Complete agenesis; Dysgenesis (malformation); Hypogenesis (partial formation); Hypoplasia (underdevelopment); Partial agenesis

Short Description or Definition

The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest white matter fiber tract (also known as commissure) connecting the two hemispheres of the human brain. Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is present at birth and encompasses structural defects of the development of the corpus callosum that range from partial to complete loss of these connective fiber tracts. Primary AgCC is a complete loss of the CC without other accompanying brain changes. A rare individual diagnosed with ASD is found to have AgCC.

Categorization

The CC is generally divided into seven subregions (see “The Definition of the Corpus Callosum”).

AgCC is divided into partial (Fig. 1) and complete (Fig. 2) based on whether one or more subregions are missing (Fig. 1) or whether the entire CC is absent (Fig. 2). In...

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References and Reading

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Correspondence to John P. Hegarty .

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Hegarty, J.P., Hardan, A.Y., Frazier, T.W. (2018). Agenesis of Corpus Callosum. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_657-3

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