A systematic quantitative morpho-volumetric analysis in infants with sagittal craniosynostosis and relationship with the severity of scaphocephalic deformity
Abstract
Purpose Among patients with isolated sagittal synostosis (ISS), the head shape varies considerably in relation to the severity of the abnormality. This study aimed to quantify skull base morphometry and intracranial volume to investigate their relationships with the severity of scaphocephaly.Methods We studied 66 infants with ISS identifying three groups according to the morphological severity of cranial deformity (group I: mild deformity; group II: moderate deformity; group III: severe deformity), by combining two scaphocephaly severity indices as descriptors of the relation of three morphological measurements (length, width and height) We perform a quantitative analysis using high-resolution CT images calculating following parameters: cranial fossae dimensions, supratentorial (ICV) and infratentorial (PCFV) cranial volume, supratentorial (WBV) and infratentorial (PCFBV) brain volume, ICV/WBV, PCFV/PCFBV, supratentorial and infratentorial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).Results In all subgroups, anterior and middle skull base lengths were increased, while posterior hemifossae lengths were unchanged. In mild subgroup, ICV/WBV was significantly different and ICV, WBV and CSF supratentorial volume increased (p < 0.05). In moderate and severe subgroups, FCPV/FCPBV was significantly different and CSF infratentorial volume was reduced (p < 0.05); FCPBV was increased only in the severe subgroup (p < 0.05).Conclusion This morpho-volumetric study provides new insights in understanding the compensatory changes occurring in infants at different stages of scaphocephaly severity. In particular, our study suggests that patients with severe deformity might have an earlier depletion of reserve mechanisms with a reduced compliance of the overall skull during encephalic growth and these patients might require early surgical cranial expansion.
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Compensatory processes differ mainly according to the time of ossification of the sagittal suture in the prenatal period; early ossification is associated with a more pronounced scaphocephalic deformity, and late ossification with a less pronounced deformity.
“It is important to point out that these compensatory processes differ mainly according to the time at which ossification of the sagittal suture takes place in the prenatal period. Thus, early ossification of the suture is associated with a more pronounced scaphocephalic deformity, whereas late ossification of the suture is associated with a less pronounced deformity [12].”
From Isolated Sagittal Craniosynostosis: A Comprehensive Review (2024) · cites this paper as [12]
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Isolated Sagittal Craniosynostosis: A Comprehensive Review
Spazzapan, P., & Velnar, T. (2024) · Diagnostics · doi:10.3390/diagnostics14040435 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“Thus, early ossification of the suture is associated with a more pronounced scaphocephalic deformity, whereas late ossification of the suture is associated with a less pronounced deformity [12].”
BackgroundFunctional and morphological changes in hypoplasic posterior fossa
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Morphometric Analysis of the Cranial Fossae in Scaphocephalic Patients: An Anatomical Basis
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Cerebellar Tonsils Herniation and Syringomyelia in Craniosynostoses
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Epidemiology of dento-skeletal dysmorphoses in children treated for craniosynostosis in infancy
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- Authors
- Calandrelli, R., Pilato, F., Massimi, L., Panfili, M., & Colosimo, C.
- Affiliations
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Calandrelli, Rosalinda
- Venue
- La radiologia medica
- Published
- 2020-02-17
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 585-594
- ISSN
- 0033-8362 (ISSN-L)
- 1826-6983
- OpenAlex
- W3005875826
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- La radiologia medica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pectus Deformity Diagnosis and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Keywords
- scaphocephaly, intracranial volume, cranial volume, brain volume, cerebrospinal fluid volume, infants
- MeSH terms
- Craniosynostoses, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Retrospective Studies, Severity of Illness Index, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Skull Base, Imaging, Three-Dimensional
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