Ultrasonography for the diagnosis of craniosynostosis

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report our experience with ultrasonography in our routine practice for the diagnosis of cranial deformity in infants.

Methods: We conducted a single-institution retrospective study of infants referred to our department because of skull deformity. We only included in this study infants having undergone both US and 3D-CT to ensure accurate comparisons. Each cranial suture was described as normal or closed (partial or complete closure). Sonography examination results were correlated with 3D-CT findings as a gold-standard.

Results: Forty infants were included with a mean age of 5.2±4.9months. Thirty had a craniosynostosis and 10 children had a postural deformity with normal sutures. Correlation between US and 3D-CT for the diagnosis of normal or closed suture had a specificity and a sensitivity of 100%. US examination for the diagnosis of complete or incomplete synostosis had a sensitivity of 100%.

Conclusions: Cranial US is an effective technique to make a positive or negative diagnosis of prematurely closed suture. US examination of sutures is a fast and non-radiating technique, which may serve as a first-choice imaging modality in infants with skull deformity.

Keywords: Craniosynostosis; Infant; Nonsynostotic plagiocephaly; Positional plagiocephaly; Skull; Ultrasound.