Cephalic Index in the First Three Years of Life: Study of Children with Normal Brain Development Based on Computed Tomography

Abstract

Cephalic index is a highly useful method for planning surgical procedures, as well as assessing their effectiveness in correcting cranial deformations in children. There are relatively very few studies measuring cephalic index in healthy Caucasian young children. The aim of our study was to develop a classification of current cephalic index for healthy Caucasian children up to 3 years of age with normal brain development, using axial slice computer tomography performed with very thin slices (0.5 mm) resulting in more accurate measurements. 180 healthy infants (83 females and 97 males) were divided into 5 age categories: 0–3, 4–6, 7–12, 13–24, and 25–36 months. The average value of cephalic index in children up to 3 years of age amounted to 81.45 ± 7.06. The index value in case of children under 3 months was 80.19, 4 to 6 months was 81.45, 7 to 12 months was 83.15, in children under 2 years was 81.05, and in children under 3 years was 79.76. Mesocephaly is the dominating skull shape in children. In this study, we formulated a classification of current cephalic indices of children with normal brain development. Our date appears to be of utmost importance in anthropology, anatomy forensic medicine, and genetics.

Normal Beyin Gelişimi Gösteren Çocuklarda Bilgisayarlı Tomografi (BT) Taraması İle Kranial İndeksin Belirlenmesi: Retrospektif Bir Çalışma

“…According to Posnick et al 17 reported in females in the present study is slightly lower than 80.54±7.20 reported in females 11 . The difference between the findings in this study and previous study 11 may not be unconnected with the difference in race as well as age range difference among study participants. Applying the Strandring head shape classification 6 , the most frequently occurring type of head shape as per the present study is mesocephaly (55.26%).…”

“…Reduction of cranial cavity capacity may lead to compression of the normally developing child's brain 11 . The plan of effective treatment in craniosynostoses comprises surgical treatment of skull deformation.…”

“…The plan of effective treatment in craniosynostoses comprises surgical treatment of skull deformation. For that purpose, the knowledge of skull dimensions of children with normal brain development is indispensable 11 . One of the useful indicators for assessment of child's head shape is the determination of cephalic index, defined as percentage of width to length in any skull [(cephalic width/cephalic length) multipled by 100%] 1 .…”

“…One of the useful indicators for assessment of child's head shape is the determination of cephalic index, defined as percentage of width to length in any skull [(cephalic width/cephalic length) multipled by 100%] 1 . The cephalic index may be determined applying anthropometric methods, dry skull measurements, and radiological methods (measurements on computer tomography scans) 11 . Flattening and asymmetry may have numerous reasons among which could be a combination of genetic and environmental factors 13,14 .…”

“…With minimum differences (measuring error below 5%) in direct measurements of osseous structures of the skull and indirect measurements performed on CT scans of the same skulls, they demonstrated that measurements performed on CT scans are highly reliable 11 . According to Posnick et al 17 reported in females in the present study is slightly lower than 80.54±7.20 reported in females 11 . The difference between the findings in this study and previous study 11 may not be unconnected with the difference in race as well as age range difference among study participants.…”