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Skull volume in infants. Methodology, normal values, and application.
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|October 1, 1975
Summary
Occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) reliably estimates skull volume in infants with normal head shapes. However, OFC is inaccurate for infants with abnormal skull shapes, necessitating serial skull volume measurements for monitoring brain growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Accurate assessment of cranial volume is crucial for monitoring infant brain development.
- Occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) is a common clinical measurement, but its relationship with actual skull volume requires validation.
- Understanding skull volume dynamics is essential for identifying potential growth abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a relationship between occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) and skull volume in infants with normally shaped skulls.
- To develop formulas for estimating skull volume from OFC based on age and sex.
- To evaluate the reliability of OFC as an indicator of skull volume in infants with abnormally shaped skulls.
Main Methods:
- Skull volume was measured using roentgenograms in 53 infants with normal skull shapes.
- Formulas were derived to correlate OFC with skull volume for different age and sex groups.
- Percentile ranks for skull volume were calculated using these formulas and existing data.
- The OFC-skull volume relationship was examined in seven infants with abnormal skull shapes.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was observed between occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) and skull volume in infants with normally shaped skulls.
- Sex- and age-specific formulas were computed to estimate skull volume from OFC.
- The relationship between OFC and skull volume differed significantly in infants with abnormally shaped skulls.
- Occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) was found to be an unreliable predictor of cranial volume in infants with abnormal skull shapes.
Conclusions:
- Occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) can be a reliable indicator of skull volume in infants with typical head shapes.
- Serial skull volume measurements are recommended for accurately tracking brain growth in infants with abnormal skull shapes.
- This study provides a method for calculating percentile ranks of skull volume for clinical assessment.