Roentgenological measurement of skull size in Nigerian children

The maximal internal length L, height H, and width W, were measured on normal A.P. and lateral skull radiographs on 352 Nigerian children whose age range was from birth to 12 years. The distance between the necks of the mandibles M, was also measured. Based on the above measurements the Cronqvist cranial indices (Formula: see text) and a simple summation index, L + W + H were determined. Normal mean values and standard deviation for Nigerian children were then calculated. The mean Cronqvist index (Formula: see text) was found to be 57.3, at birth, 53.3 at 5 years and 50.3 at 10 years. The simple summation index was 340 mm at birth and 495 mm at 10 years. There is a striking similarity in head size and growth pattern to those of North American children. There was little to choose between the various indices in the first year of life. The simple summation index seemed most sensitive after 2 years.