Ultrasonography for the diagnosis of craniosynostosis

- Cranial US shows high accuracy in the diagnosis of craniosynostosis.
- US may be the first-choice imaging in infants with skull deformity.
- US is efficient in diagnose a partial or complete suture closure.
- 3D-CT may be secondary performed at the appropriate time before surgery.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to report our experience with ultrasonography in our routine practice for the diagnosis of cranial deformity in infants.MethodsWe 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.ResultsForty infants were included with a mean age of 5.2 ± 4.9 months. 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%.ConclusionsCranial 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.