CT scan measurements of cranial base and mandibular asymmetry in deformational plagiocephaly

The purpose of this study is to define craniofacial asymmetry in deformational plagiocephaly. This retrospective study involved a series of 15 infants (mean age 6.8 months) referred for evaluation of deformational plagiocephaly. Each patient had CT scan examination, None had craniosynostosis. A series of measurements were taken from the 3-D reconstruction using Cemax software. Our findings describe significant cranial base and facial asymmetry in our patient population. While the anterior and posterior cranial fossae midlines remain aligned, the petrous ridge is displaced anteriorly on the side ipsilateral to the occipital flatness. The ipsilateral genial angle is decreased. Other measurements confirm decreased ipsilateral upper and midfacial depth. These differences are statistically significant using paired T-tests.