The DOI matches its Crossref record; 11 of the 11 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Single-Sutural Synostoses: Are Computed Tomographic Scans Necessary?
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Computed tomographic scan evaluation is the current standard of care for diagnosing craniosynostosis. Recent publications, and the National Cancer Institute, have raised concerns about ionizing radiation associated with computed tomographic scans in children (e.g., developmental delays, tumor induction). The authors sought to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of the physical examination in evaluating single-sutural craniosynostosis and assess the need for computed tomographic scans in surgical correction. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, outcome assessment included children clinically diagnosed with a single-sutural synostosis by craniofacial surgeons (with 1 to 18 years' experience) at four centers over a 1-year period. Clinical diagnoses were compared with computed tomographic scan evaluations. All surgeons scored the utility of computed tomographic scans during surgical repair. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were clinically diagnosed with single-sutural craniosynostosis (mean age, 7 months; range, 1 week to 48 months). Sixty-six of 67 patients were diagnosed with craniosynostosis by computed tomographic scan (sagittal, 40 percent; metopic, 31 percent; right unilateral coronal, 16 percent; left unilateral coronal, 6 percent; and right lambdoid, 6 percent), for a diagnostic accuracy exceeding 98 percent. One patient with suspected lambdoid synostosis was radiologically diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly. Three of four craniofacial surgeons scored computed tomographic scans as "unnecessary" for surgical correction; one scored scans as "sometimes helpful." CONCLUSIONS: Craniofacial surgeons with various experience levels were able to accurately diagnose single-sutural synostosis by physical examination alone. Considering potential side effects from ionizing radiation, risks of sedation, and costs, surgeons may wish to reserve computed tomographic scans only for infants with suspected single-sutural craniosynostosis in whom the physical examination is not clearly diagnostic.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Fearon et al. in 2007 demonstrated that CT imaging is unnecessary due to the condition’s clear clinical detectability and the associated risk of radiation exposure.”
From Developments in diagnostic and surgical techniques in children with sagittal suture craniosynostosis: a systematic review spanning the last 30 years (2025) · cites this paper as [29]
In the citing paper
“In 66 of 67 children, the findings of the clinical and radiological examinations were similar in their description and associated diagnosis.”
From Developments in diagnostic and surgical techniques in children with sagittal suture craniosynostosis: a systematic review spanning the last 30 years (2025) · cites this paper as [29]
Citations
Cites
Estimated Risks of Radiation-Induced Fatal Cancer from Pediatric CT
Brenner, D. J., Elliston, C. D., Hall, E. J., & Berdon, W. E. (2001) · American Journal of Roentgenology · doi:10.2214/ajr.176.2.1760289 · Cited by 3,222
Tumors of the Brain and Nervous System after Radiotherapy in Childhood
Ron, E., Modan, B., Boice, J. D., Alfandary, E., Stovall, M. A., Chetrit, A., & Katz, L. (1988) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198810203191601 · Cited by 929
Hall, P. N., Adami, H., Trichopoulos, D., Pedersen, N. L., Lagiou, P., Ekbom, A., Ingvar, M., Lundell, M., & Granath, F. (2004) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7430.19 · Cited by 350
Epidemiology of brain tumors in childhood—a review
Baldwin, R. T., & Preston‐Martin, S. (2004) · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.taap.2003.12.029 · Cited by 237
Huang, M. H. S., Gruss, J. S., Clarren, S. K., Mouradian, W. E., Cunningham, M. L., Roberts, T. S., Loeser, J. D., & Cornell, C. J. (1996) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/00006534-199610000-00001 · Cited by 225
Anderson, V. A., Godber, T., Smibert, E., Weiskop, S., & EKERT, H. (2000) · British Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1054/bjoc.1999.0912 · Cited by 198
Childhood and adult cancer after intrauterine exposure to ionizing radiation
Boice, J. D., & Miller, R. W. (1999) · Teratology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-9926(199904)59:4 · Cited by 138
Tradeoffs between image quality and dose
Seibert, J. A. (2004) · Pediatric Radiology · doi:10.1007/s00247-004-1268-7 · Cited by 77
Ultrasound screening of the lambdoid suture in the child with posterior plagiocephaly
Sze, R. W., Parisi, M. T., Sidhu, M. K., Paladin, A. M., Ngo, A.-V. H., Seidel, K. D., Weinberger, E., Ellenbogen, R. G., Gruss, J. S., & Cunningham, M. L. (2003) · Pediatric Radiology · doi:10.1007/s00247-003-1009-3 · Cited by 59
High-resolution sonography of the abnormal cranial suture
Soboleski, D., Mussari, B., McCloskey, D., Sauerbrei, E. E., Espinosa, F., & Fletcher, A. (1998) · Pediatric Radiology · doi:10.1007/s002470050297 · Cited by 44
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Single Sutural Craniosynostoses: Surgical Outcomes and Long-Term Growth
Fearon, J. A., Ruotolo, R. A., & Kolar, J. C. (2009) · Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0b013e318195661a · Cited by 196
Self-citationOutcome analysis of our first 75 spring-assisted surgeries for scaphocephaly
David, L. R., Plikaitis, C. M., Couture, D., Glazier, S. S., & Argenta, L. C. (2010) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0b013e3181c3469d · Cited by 136
“In light of the recent publications on the possible risks of radiation exposure in early childhood, we do not think that serial computed tomography for the sole purpose of quantifying clinical results is warranted.(23) Further study is ongoing to refine our measurement capabilities without radiation exposure.”
BackgroundEley, K. A., Watt-Smith, S. R., Sheerin, F., & Golding, S. J. (2014) · European Radiology · doi:10.1007/s00330-014-3286-7 · Cited by 136
Garza, R. M., & Khosla, R. K. (2012) · Seminars in Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1055/s-0032-1320063 · Cited by 129
Vogel, T. W. A., Woo, A. S., Kane, A. A., Patel, K. B., Naidoo, S. D., & Smyth, M. D. (2014) · Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2013.12.peds13320 · Cited by 104
Making the Diagnosis: Metopic Ridge Versus Metopic Craniosynostosis
Birgfeld, C., Saltzman, B., Hing, A., Heike, C., Khanna, P., Gruss, J., & Hopper, R. (2013) · The Journal of craniofacial surgery (Print) · doi:10.1097/scs.0b013e31826683d1 · Cited by 93
Dempsey, R. F., Monson, L. A., Maricevich, R. S., Truong, T. A., Olarunnipa, S., Lam, S. K., Dauser, R. C., Hollier, L. H., & Buchanan, E. P. (2019) · Clinics in Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.cps.2018.11.001 · Cited by 100
Pfeiffer Syndrome: A Treatment Evaluation
Fearon, J., & Rhodes, J. L. (2009) · Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0b013e3181a2057e · Cited by 83
Self-citationCraniosynostosis: imaging review and primer on computed tomography
Badve, C. A., Mallikarjunappa, M. K., Iyer, R. S., Ishak, G. E., & Khanna, P. C. (2013) · Pediatric Radiology · doi:10.1007/s00247-013-2673-6 · Cited by 89
“It is particularly useful in cases of single-suture synostosis with a nondiagnostic physical examination [52].”
BackgroundAvoiding CT scans in children with single-suture craniosynostosis
Schweitzer, T., Böhm, H., Meyer‐Marcotty, P., Collmann, H., Ernestus, R., & Krauß, J. (2012) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-012-1721-0 · Cited by 88
“Additional risks caused by sedation or anesthesia required for CT studies have to be considered as well [11].”
BackgroundHutchison, B. L., Stewart, A. W., & Mitchell, E. A. (2009) · Acta Paediatrica · doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01356.x · Cited by 86
“We feel CT scans are not needed for the majority of children with plagiocephaly, and thus concerns about the unnecessary adverse effects of radiation can be avoided with careful clinical examination (14).”
BackgroundHypophosphatemic rickets and craniosynostosis: a multicenter case series
Vega, R. A., Opalak, C. F., Harshbarger, R. J., Fearon, J. A., Ritter, A. M., Collins, J. J., & Rhodes, J. L. (2016) · Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2015.10.peds15273 · Cited by 81
Self-citationEvidence-Based Medicine: Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis
Tahiri, Y. H., Bartlett, S. P. P., & Gilardino, M. S. (2017) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000003473 · Cited by 74
Imaging in craniosynostosis: when and what?
Massimi, L., Bianchi, F., Frassanito, P., Calandrelli, R., Tamburrini, G., & Caldarelli, M. (2019) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-019-04278-x · Cited by 66
Combining deep learning with 3D stereophotogrammetry for craniosynostosis diagnosis
de Jong, G., Bijlsma, E., Meulstee, J., Wennen, M., van Lindert, E., Maal, T., Aquarius, R., & Delye, H. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72143-y · Cited by 62
Craniosynostosis of the Lambdoid Suture
Tye, G. W., Fearon, J. A., & Rhodes, J. L. (2014) · Seminars in Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1055/s-0034-1384809 · Cited by 61
Self-citationLong-Term Results in Isolated Metopic Synostosis: The Oxford Experience over 22 Years
Natghian, H., Song, M., Jayamohan, J., Johnson, D., Magdum, S. A., Richards, P., & Wall, S. A. (2018) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000004768 · Cited by 55
Saarikko, A. M., Mellanen, E. H., Kuusela, L., Leikola, J. P., Karppinen, A., Autti, T. H., Virtanen, P. L. J., & Brandstack, N. (2019) · Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2019.11.006 · Cited by 54
Tenhagen, M., Bruse, J. L., Rodríguez-Flórez, N., Angullia, F., Borghi, A., Koudstaal, M. J., Schievano, S., Jeelani, O., & Dunaway, D. J. (2016) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000003108 · Cited by 51
“Computed tomography examinations are therefore confined to selected situations in which CT-associated risks are counterbalanced by the clinical needs to study the complex problem.(2) Three-dimensional photography is an alternative, noninvasive method to acquire surface information of the human body.”
BackgroundIncreasing Concern Regarding Computed Tomography Irradiation in Craniofacial Surgery
Domeshek, L. F., Mukundan, S., Yoshizumi, T. T., & Marcus, J. R. (2009) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0b013e31819e26d5 · Cited by 50
Freudlsperger, C., Steinmacher, S., Bächli, H., Somlo, E., Hoffmann, J., & Engel, M. (2015) · Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2015.02.017 · Cited by 47
“…have already questioned the routine use of CT scans in patients suffering from craniosynostis, especially in cases of non-syndromic, single suture synostosis, as a certain diagnosis is usually possible by clinical examination only (Engel et al., 2012, Fearon et al., 2007; Schweitzer et al., 2012).”
BackgroundWang, J. Y., Dorafshar, A. H., Liu, A., Groves, M. L., & Ahn, E. S. (2016) · Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2016.2.peds15524 · Cited by 43
Management options of non-syndromic sagittal craniosynostosis
Lee, B. S., Hwang, L. S., Doumit, G. D., Wooley, J., Papay, F. A., Luciano, M. G., & Recinos, V. M. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2017.02.042 · Cited by 42
“demonstrated that physical examination alone can accurately diagnose non-syndromic craniosynostosis in 98% of cases [10].”
Skull base development and craniosynostosis
Blasér, S., Padfield, N., Chitayat, D. A., & Forrest, C. R. (2015) · Pediatric Radiology · doi:10.1007/s00247-015-3320-1 · Cited by 41
Pyle, J., Glazier, S., Couture, D., Sanger, C., Gordon, S., & David, L. (2009) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0b013e3181bd2cb2 · Cited by 39
Cranial ultrasound is a reliable first step imaging in children with suspected craniosynostosis
Pogliani, L., Zuccotti, G. V., Furlanetto, M., Giudici, V., Erbetta, A., Chiapparini, L., & Valentini, L. (2017) · Child's Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-017-3449-3 · Cited by 39
Diagnostic Pediatric Computed Tomographic Scans of the Head: Actual Dosage versus Estimated Risk
Jaffurs, D., & Denny, A. D. (2009) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0b013e3181b59d2d · Cited by 38
Engel, M., Castrillon‐Oberndorfer, G., Hoffmann, J., & Freudlsperger, C. (2012) · Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2012.03.038 · Cited by 36
“treatment.(8) Underlying brain abnormalities, if present, could have a considerable influence on the treatment in some cases.”
BackgroundMetopic “ridge” vs. “craniosynostosis”: Quantifying severity with 3D curvature analysis
Cho, M., Kane, A. A., Seaward, J. R., & Hallac, R. R. (2016) · Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2016.06.019 · Cited by 34
“Considering costs of CT and risks of ionizing radiation (Engel et al., 2012; Cho et al., 2016), several studies suggested that CT scan is not routinely necessary to diagnose isolated MCS (Agrawal et al., 2006; Fearon et al., 2007; Engel et al., 2012; Schweitzer et al., 2012).”
BackgroundUltrasonography for the diagnosis of craniosynostosis
Proisy, M., Riffaud, L., Chouklati, K., Tréguier, C., & Bruneau, B. (2017) · European Journal of Radiology · doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2017.03.006 · Cited by 34
Krimmel, M., Will, B. E., Wolff, M., Kluba, S., Haas‐Lude, K., Schaefer, J. F., Schuhmann, M. U., & Reinert, S. (2012) · International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2012.02.022 · Cited by 33
Mercedes Benz Pattern Craniosynostosis
Rhodes, J. L., Kolar, J. C., & Fearon, J. A. (2009) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0b013e3181c2a6aa · Cited by 33
Self-citationUse of black-bone MRI in the diagnosis of the patients with posterior plagiocephaly
Kuusela, L., Hukki, A., Brandstack, N., Autti, T. H., Leikola, J. P., & Saarikko, A. M. (2018) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-018-3783-0 · Cited by 29
An Evidence-Based Approach to Craniosynostosis
Chim, H., & Gosain, A. K. (2011) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0b013e318204649a · Cited by 29
“Lambdoid craniosynostosis was associated with a significantly higher frequency of (1) nearly complete obliteration of sutures; (2) ectocranial ridging; and (3) ipsilateral occipital flattening with compensatory ipsilateral mastoid and contralateral parietal bossing, with a trapezoid morphology.”
BackgroundCurrent Controversies in Metopic Suture Craniosynostosis
Jaskolka, M. S. (2017) · Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.coms.2017.07.003 · Cited by 29
Wagner, F., Bize, J., Racine, D., Coultre, R. L., Verdun, F. R., Trueb, P. R., & Treier, R. (2018) · Journal of Radiological Protection · doi:10.1088/1361-6498/aac69c · Cited by 27
Increased Incidence of Metopic Suture Abnormalities in Children With Positional Plagiocephaly
Fisher, D. C., Kornrumpf, B. P., Couture, D. E., Glazier, S. S., Argenta, L. C., & David, L. R. (2010) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0b013e3181f6c5a7 · Cited by 27
Seeberger, R., Hoffmann, J., Freudlsperger, C., Berger, M., Bodem, J., Horn, D., & Engel, M. (2016) · Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2016.01.023 · Cited by 25
Patel, K. B., Eldeniz, C., Skolnick, G. B., Jammalamadaka, U. M., Commean, P. K., Goyal, M. S., Smyth, M. D., & An, H. (2020) · Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2020.4.peds20131 · Cited by 25
Moderie, C., Govshievich, A., Papay, F. A., Fearon, J. A., Gosain, A. K., & Doumit, G. D. (2019) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000002229 · Cited by 26
Self-citationHow ultrasonography can contribute to diagnosis of craniosynostosis
Proisy, M., Bruneau, B., & Riffaud, L. (2019) · Neurochirurgie · doi:10.1016/j.neuchi.2019.09.019 · Cited by 24
“Considering the potential side-effects of ionizing radiation, sedation risks and costs, some authors even suggest that operative correction of isolated sagittal synostosis can proceed without any radiological investigations, unless clinical examination exhibits atypical features [14,15].”
BackgroundMertens, C., Wessel, E., Berger, M., Ristow, O., Hoffmann, J., Kansy, K., Freudlsperger, C., Bächli, H., & Engel, M. (2017) · Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2017.09.019 · Cited by 22
“Furthermore, complete clinical examination in sagittal synostosis is often sufficient for accurate diagnosis (Agrawal et al., 2006; Fearon et al., 2007; Schweitzer et al., 2012).”
BackgroundMethodParo, M., Lambert, W. A., Leclair, N. K., Romano, R., Stoltz, P., Martin, J. E., Hersh, D. S., & Bookland, M. J. (2022) · Neurosurgery · doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000001890 · Cited by 23
Ho, O. A., Saber, N. R., Stephens, D., Clausen, A., Drake, J. M., Forrest, C. R., & Phillips, J. H. (2017) · Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1177/2292550317694845 · Cited by 21
“tion exposure due to CT scans such as development of leukemia and malignant tumours.(1-4) It is particularly concerning in the craniosynostosis population, as the patients receive this exposure at a younger age and more frequently than the average child.”
BackgroundEvaluation and Management of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis
Marbate, T., Kedia, S., & Gupta, D. K. (2022) · Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences · doi:10.4103/jpn.jpn_17_22 · Cited by 20
Making the Diagnosis in Sagittal Craniosynostosis—It’s Height, Not Length, That Matters
Blum, J. D., Cho, D., Cheung, L., Villavisanis, D. F., Ng, J. J., Swanson, J. W., Bartlett, S. P. P., & Taylor, J. A. (2022) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-022-05518-3 · Cited by 18
Percentile-based assessment of craniosynostosis
Wilbrand, J.-F., Bierther, U., Nord, T., Reinges, M. H. T., Hahn, A., Christophis, P., Streckbein, P., Kähling, C., & Howaldt, H. (2013) · Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2013.09.005 · Cited by 18
“, 2009), but some authors have argued that not all simple craniosynostoses require radiographic imaging (Fearon et al., 2007).”
BackgroundMajor clinical features of synostotic occipital plagiocephaly: mechanisms of cranial deformations
Matushita, H., Alonso, N., Cardeal, D. D., & de Andrade, F. G. (2014) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-014-2414-7 · Cited by 18
Associated (Parallel) Tomographic Findings in Patients With Single-Sutural Synostosis
da Silva Freitas, R., de Freitas Azzolini, T., Shin, J. H., & Persing, J. A. (2010) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0b013e3181cfa7ad · Cited by 17
Birgfeld, C. B., Heike, C. L., Al-Mufarrej, F. M., Oppenheimer, A. J., Kamps, S. E., Adidharma, W., & Siebold, B. S. (2019) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000001944 · Cited by 17
The Role of Preoperative Imaging in the Management of Nonsyndromic Lambdoid Craniosynostosis
Ranganathan, K., Rampazzo, A., Hashmi, A., Muraszko, K. M., Strahle, J. M., Vercler, C. J., & Buchman, S. R. (2017) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000004026 · Cited by 17
“Additionally, no neurosurgical input was utilized, an important omission to consider given the importance of neurosurgical experience and collaboration in operative planning for these patients.(3) Given these limitations, the necessity of imaging for lambdoid craniosynostosis remains unclear.”
BackgroundChiari 1 malformation and untreated sagittal synostosis: a new subset of complex Chiari?
Valentini, L. G., Saletti, V., Erbetta, A., Chiapparini, L., & Furlanetto, M. (2019) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-019-04283-0 · Cited by 16
Assessing aesthetic outcomes after trigonocephaly correction
Metzler, P., Zemann, W., Jacobsen, C., Lübbers, H., Grätz, K. W., & Obwegeser, J. A. (2013) · Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1007/s10006-013-0399-0 · Cited by 16
Newborn Craniofacial Malformations
Hamm, J. A., & Robin, N. H. (2015) · Clinics in Perinatology · doi:10.1016/j.clp.2015.02.005 · Cited by 16
The Many Faces of Sagittal Synostosis: A Novel Classification and Approach to Diagnosis
Diab, J., Flapper, W. J., Grave, B., Abou‐Hamden, A., Anderson, P. J., & Moore, M. H. (2021) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000008086 · Cited by 15
“With the advent of computed tomography (CT) imaging, there has been controversy regarding its use to make the diagnosis and the potential risks of harm on children.(7) Different units employ various methods to diagnose and classify sagittal synostosis, but with the abundance of information that is collected from CT an…”
BackgroundMurphy, B. D., Ajabshir, N., Altman, N. R., Wolfe, S. A., & Perlyn, C. A. (2017) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000003603 · Cited by 14
“In these patients, diagnosis can often be made on clinical examination alone and does not require routine imaging.(1,2) Multisuture craniosynostosis, which may be associated with a syndromic diagnosis, can produce complex deformities making diagnosis and surgical planning more difficult; this complexity often necessit…”
BackgroundThe Role of Preoperative Computed Tomography in Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis
Alnaif, N. M., Zhou, M., Galli, R., Azzi, A. J., Alamri, A., & Gilardino, M. S. (2019) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000005088 · Cited by 13
“Habal, MD In 7 studies, 100% of included patients (378/378) received a routine preoperative CT scan by the craniofacial surgeon.(2,3,5,19,20,22,23) Of the 4 remaining studies, CT scans were only performed in 9.”
BackgroundExperimental and Computational Investigation of Guided Waves in a Human Skull
Sugino, C., Ruzzene, M., & Ertürk, A. (2020) · Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology · doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.11.019 · Cited by 13
Kronig, O. D. M., Kronig, S. A. J., Vrooman, H. A., Veenland, J. F., & van Adrichem, L. N. A. (2021) · International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2021.03.003 · Cited by 13
Ravindra, V. M., Awad, A.-W., Baker, C. M., Lee, A., Anderson, R. C. E., Gociman, B., Patel, K. B., Smyth, M. D., Birgfeld, C., Pollack, I. F., et al. (2021) · Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2021.2.peds2113 · Cited by 12
Computed tomography associated radiation exposure in children with craniosynostosis
Bruce, M. K., Mittal, A. M., Whitt, D. S., Flom, L. L., Pfaff, M. J., Losee, J. E., & Goldstein, J. A. (2021) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-021-05254-0 · Cited by 12
Sisti, A., Gharb, B. B., Papay, F. A., & Rampazzo, A. (2021) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000008196 · Cited by 12
“However, the risk of ionizing radiation to pediatric body tissues has been underscored and the need for each child with a suspected metopic craniosynostosis to have a CT scan has been questioned.(57,58) Important to remember, the metopic suture normally fuses before 9 months of age, therefore, a fused suture on a CT a…”
BackgroundPostnatal diagnosis of single-suture craniosynostosis with cranial ultrasound: a systematic review
Whittall, I., Lambert, W. A., Moote, D. J., Bookland, M. J., Martin, J. E., Hughes, C. D., & Hersh, D. S. (2021) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-021-05301-w · Cited by 12
“Careful physical examination by an experienced provider is often sufficient for diagnosing single-suture craniosynostosis, as the premature closure of each suture is associated with a characteristic head shape [5].”
BackgroundPrenatal Diagnosis of Craniosynostosis Using Ultrasound
DeFreitas, C. A., Carr, S. R., Merck, D. L., Byrne, M. M., Linden, O. E., Stiles, E., Sullivan, S. R., & Taylor, H. O. B. (2022) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000009608 · Cited by 13
A clinical tool to measure plagiocephaly in infants using a flexicurve: a reliability study
Leung, A., Watter, P., & Gavranich, J. B. (2013) · Pediatric Health Medicine and Therapeutics · doi:10.2147/phmt.s48864 · Cited by 11
“However, concerns were raised about exposing children to excessive ionizing radiation, and it was advocated that the use of computed tomography should be limited to craniofacial deformity with uncertain diagnosis.(16) The use of high-frequency ultrasound was proposed to be a safe and easy-to-use tool for confirming th…”
MethodNeverauskienė, A., Maciusovic, M., Burkanas, M., Gricienė, B., Petkevičius, L., Zaleckas, L., Tamosiunas, A. E., & Venius, J. (2018) · European Journal of Radiology · doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2018.06.005 · Cited by 11
Kim, S. M., Yang, J. S., Han, J. W., Koo, H. I., Roh, T. H., & Yoon, S. H. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-77550-z · Cited by 10
“However, despite the accurate and precise diagnosis offered by CT scans 4 , prioritising 2D X-ray or radiation-free methods over CT is recommended because of the associated risks.”
BackgroundBirgfeld, C. B., & Heike, C. L. (2020) · Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction · doi:10.1177/1943387520965801 · Cited by 10
Challenging the Norm: Is Routine Use of Cranial CT in Evaluation of Craniosynostosis Necessary?
Fahradyan, A., Daneshgaran, G., Hoffman, T. L., Wexler, A. M., & Francis, S. H. (2021) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000007926 · Cited by 9
“Evidence from a prospective multicenter study reveals that craniofacial surgeons are able to correctly diagnose single-suture craniosynostosis based on clinical examination alone with an accuracy exceeding 98%.(7) Another meta-analysis reveals that clinical examination has a 98% concordance with CT diagnosis in cases…”
BackgroundAhammout, C., Perez, F. A., Birgfeld, C. B., Koudstaal, M. J., Ellenbogen, R. G., Lee, A., & Heike, C. L. (2021) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000008056 · Cited by 9
Aldana, P. R., & Steinbok, P. (2009) · Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2009.4.peds0945 · Cited by 10
Leonhardt, Y., Kronthaler, S., Feuerriegel, G. C., Karampinos, D. C., Schwaiger, B. J., Pfeiffer, D., Makowski, M. R., Koerte, I. K., Liebig, T., Woertler, K., et al. (2022) · Clinical Neuroradiology · doi:10.1007/s00062-022-01182-x · Cited by 9
Ionizing Radiation in Craniofacial Surgery: A Primer on Dose and Risks
Cho, M., Blackburn, T., Hallac, R. R., Kane, A. A., Koral, K., & Seaward, J. R. (2016) · The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal · doi:10.1597/15-350 · Cited by 9
A new three-dimensional measurement in evaluating the cranial asymmetry caused by craniosynostosis
Yin, H., Dong, X., & Yang, B. (2015) · Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy · doi:10.1007/s00276-015-1430-y · Cited by 8
Ulma, R. M., Ranganathan, K., Vercler, C. J., Garton, H. J. L., Maher, C. O., Muraszko, K. M., & Buchman, S. R. (2021) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000007830 · Cited by 8
Computer-assisted shape descriptors for skull morphology in craniosynostosis
Shim, K., Lee, M. J., Lee, M., Park, E.-K., Kim, D. S., Hong, H., & Kim, Y. O. (2016) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s00381-015-2995-9 · Cited by 7
“Even though, the most of experienced clinician may diagnose and treat these craniosynostosis patient without CT scan as Fearon et al [23] studied.”
BackgroundComputed Tomography in Patients With Craniosynostosis
Makar, K. G., Garavaglia, H. E., Muraszko, K. M., Waljee, J. F., Vercler, C. J., & Buchman, S. R. (2021) · Annals of Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1097/sap.0000000000002751 · Cited by 7
“However, one patient in this same study with a clinical diagnosis of lambdoid synostosis was found to have fully patent sutures on radiologic examination.(5) This concern for an incorrect diagnosis was further underscored in a systematic review and meta-analysis by Alnaif et al,(7) in which preoperative CTs demonstrat…”
BackgroundZimmerman, C. E., Khandelwal, P., Xie, L., Lee, H., Song, H. K., Yushkevich, P. A., Vossough, A., Bartlett, S. P. P., & Wehrli, F. W. (2021) · Academic Radiology · doi:10.1016/j.acra.2021.03.010 · Cited by 7
Early Complications and Associated Perioperative Factors in Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis
Lu, Y., Bao, N., Ghanem, A., Cai, T., Yang, J., & Mu, X. (2017) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000003589 · Cited by 7
Isolierte, nichtsyndromale Kraniosynostosen
Freudlsperger, C., Castrillon‐Oberndorfer, G., Hoffmann, J., & Engel, M. (2013) · Der MKG-Chirurg · doi:10.1007/s12285-013-0364-9 · Cited by 7
A Longitudinal Analysis of Pre- and Post-Operative Dysmorphology in Metopic Craniosynostosis
Beiriger, J. W., Tao, W., Irgebay, Z., Smetona, J. T., Dvoracek, L. A., Kass, N. M., Dixon, A., Zhang, C., Mehta, M., Whitaker, R., et al. (2024) · The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal · doi:10.1177/10556656241237605 · Cited by 6
Craniofacial Flash: Minimizing Radiation Dose in Pediatric Craniofacial Computed Tomography
Stewart, N. M., Hallac, R. R., Chou, P., Koral, K., Blackburn, T., Kane, A. A., & Seaward, J. R. (2018) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000004755 · Cited by 6
Cranial Suture Evaluation on Routine Pediatric MRI
Sreedher, G., Gillespie, C., Brown, M. F., & Ganapathy, S. S. (2020) · Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology · doi:10.1067/j.cpradiol.2020.07.003 · Cited by 6
Diagnosis and Management of Suture-Related Concerns of the Infant Skull
Hersh, D. S., Bookland, M. J., & Hughes, C. D. (2021) · Pediatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2021.04.002 · Cited by 6
Şakar, M., Haidar, H., Sönmez, Ö., Erdoğan, O., Saçak, B., Bayri, Y., & Dağçınar, A. (2022) · Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics · doi:10.3171/2022.1.peds21553 · Cited by 7
Mićović, M., Živković, B., Vukašinović, I., Jelovac, D. B., Stojičić, M., & Baščarević, V. (2025) · Diagnostics · doi:10.3390/diagnostics15202632 · Cited by 5
Yuksel, S. S., Kearney, A. M., Taub, P. J., & Gosain, A. K. (2021) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000007592 · Cited by 5
“In a multicenter prospective level I study, the majority of craniofacial surgeons agreed that preoperative CT should only be utilized in patients for whom physical examination did not provide a clear diagnosis.(4) Multiple level III studies address the effects of ionizing radiation from CT scans on children.”
BackgroundThe Top 100 Most-Cited Publications in Clinical Craniofacial Research
Braud, S. C., Treger, D., Lizardi, J. J., Boghosian, T., ElAbd, R., Arakelians, A. R. L., Jabori, S. K., & Thaller, S. R. (2024) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000010185 · Cited by 5
Management of Unicoronal and Metopic Synostoses
Hayek, G. M., Jimenez, D. F., & Yates, D. M. (2022) · Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.coms.2022.02.002 · Cited by 4
Planning and Osteotomy Designs in the Correction of Single-Suture Craniosynostosis
Bertrand, A. A., Hu, A. C., & Lee, J. C. (2021) · Annals of Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1097/sap.0000000000002385 · Cited by 4
Surgical Management in Isolated Squamosal Craniosynostosis
Fallahian, F., Meyer, A. M., Tadisina, K. K., & Lin, A. Y. (2023) · Annals of Plastic Surgery · doi:10.1097/sap.0000000000003642 · Cited by 3
Hermann, J., Raak, C. K., Ostermann, T., & Scharbrodt, W. (2025) · Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases · doi:10.1186/s13023-025-03978-9 · Cited by 2
“For example, Cedzich and Farmand 2003 recommended a combination of conventional radiographs and CT imaging for diagnosis [26], while Fearon et al. 2007 advised against unnecessary CT images due to radiation risks and the good clinical accessibility especially of CI [29].”
Guida, L., Gardin, A., James, S., Arnaud, É., Toujouse, C., Roux, J., Barreau, E., Abdallah, M. B., Almes, M., Sartori, L., et al. (2025) · Neurosurgical FOCUS · doi:10.3171/2024.10.focus24588 · Cited by 2
Diagnostik und Therapie isolierter Kraniosynostosen
Freudlsperger, C., Hoffmann, J., & Engel, M. (2015) · Kinder- und Jugendmedizin · doi:10.1055/s-0038-1629263 · Cited by 3
“Fearon und Mitarbeiter konnten bei 66 von 67 Patienten mit isolierter Kraniosynostose eine sichere Diagnose vor CT-Diagnostik stellen (33).”
BackgroundHall, J. J., & Lorenz, H. P. (2012) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-07255-7.00053-2 · Cited by 2
Clinical Features and the Use of Three-Dimensional Imaging for Unilateral Lambdoid Synostosis
Diab, J., Fowler, A., Gates, R., & Marucci, D. D. (2021) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000008190 · Cited by 2
Bielevelt, F., Chargi, N., van Aalst, J. E., Nienhuijs, M. E. L., Maal, T., Delye, H., & de Jong, G. (2025) · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000011623 · Cited by 1
“10,11 12 – 15 This noninvasive approach offers possibilities for accurate postoperative patient follow-up and comparison with a large database with healthy references (ie, noncraniosynostosis).”
From head shape to diagnosis: Craniosynostosis for the pediatric neurologist
Quick, J. D., Provasek, V. E., Powell, L. E., Barta, R. J., & Dempsey, R. F. (2026) · Seminars in Pediatric Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.spen.2026.101327 · Cited by 1
Open approaches to craniosynostosis repair: indications, techniques, outcomes, and future directions
Jarvis, T. L., Staidl, N., & Samson, T. D. (2026) · Seminars in Pediatric Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.spen.2026.101332 · Cited by 1
Radiologic Examination of the Craniofacial Skeleton
Fearon, J. A. (2010) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-03470-8.00042-9 · Cited by 1
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Fearon, J. A., Singh, D. J., Beals, S. P., & Yu, J. C.
- Affiliations
- Augusta University (US)
- Venue
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Published
- 2007-10
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1327-1331
- ISSN
- 0032-1052 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2002200350
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pectus Deformity Diagnosis and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
- Keywords
- physical examination, computed tomography, ionizing radiation risk, craniofacial surgery, surgical planning, positional plagiocephaly, lambdoid synostosis, coronal synostosis, metopic synostosis, sagittal synostosis, infants
- MeSH terms
- Child, Preschool, Craniosynostoses, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Physical Examination, Prospective Studies, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Outcome Assessment, Health Care
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review