Difficulties in differential diagnosis of sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly)

Satanin LA, Dzhandzhgava NN, Evteev AA, et al. . Difficulties in differential diagnosis of sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly). Burdenko's Journal of Neurosurgery. 2023;87(4):74‑82. (In Russ., In Engl.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/neiro20238704174

Подписка 2025 Журнал «Вопросы нейрохирургии» имени Н.Н. Бурденко (Burdenko's Journal of Neurosurgery)

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

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OBJECTIVE

To develop differential diagnostic criteria between dolichocephalic head deformities and true scaphocephaly following sagittal synostosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 33 patients with dolichocephaly (25 (75.8%) boys and 8 (24.2%) girls) between December 2013 and August 2022. The inclusion criterion was available CT or ultrasound data confirming or excluding sagittal synostosis. Age of patients was 8.62±7.71 (1.77—36) months. We analyzed anamnestic, clinical and radiological data. Radiological data was compared with diagnostic findings in 20 patients with scaphocephaly. Both groups were comparable in age, gender and cranial index.

RESULTS

We present clinical and radiological signs, as well as algorithm for differential diagnosis between scaphocephaly and dolichocephaly.

CONCLUSION

There are objective difficulties in differential diagnosis between scaphocephaly following sagittal synostosis and dolichocephalic head deformities. In most cases, we cannot establish the cause of congenital forms of dolichocephaly. The most likely causes may be pre- and postnatal compressive and positional effects. Ultrasound of skull sutures is preferable for differential diagnosis between these abnormalities. Correction of dolichocephaly can be carried out according to aesthetic indications with individual cranial orthoses.

Keywords:

deformational scaphocephaly

dolichocephaly

sagittal synostosis

scaphocephaly

craniosynostosis

«Sticky Sutures»

anthropological variability

Authors:

Satanin L.A.

Burdenko Neurosurgical Center

ORCID: 0000-0003-2051-1855

Dzhandzhgava N.N.

Kulakov Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology

ORCID: 0000-0003-4723-7139

Evteev A.A.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology

ORCID: 0000-0002-6254-1203

Chernikova N.A.

Burdenko National Medical Research Center of Neurosurgery

ORCID: 0000-0002-4895-233X

Sakharov A.V.

Burdenko Neurosurgical Center

ORCID: 0000-0001-5119-6814

Ivanov A.L.

Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery

ORCID: 0000-0002-0732-0942

Tere V.A.

Burdenko Neurosurgical Center

Roginsky V.V.

Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery

SPIN RSCI: 2873-4899
ORCID: 0000-0003-0549-855X

Received:

26.03.2023

Accepted:

19.05.2023

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References:

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