Reduced Intercarotid Artery Distance in Syndromic and Isolated Brachycephaly

There is significant reduction of the distance between carotid canals in brachycephalic patients. This distance is more significantly altered in FGFR-related brachycephaly syndromes (especially Crouzon and Pfeiffer syndromes), than Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (TWIST1 mutation) and isolated non-syndromic bicoronal synostosis. This study highlights the importance of FGFRs in shaping the skull base. Altered vascular course of the internal carotid arteries can have important implications in planning skull base surgery in brachycephalic patients.