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Brain morphology in nonsyndromic unicoronal craniosynostosis.
Kristina Aldridge1, Alex A Kane, Jeffrey L Marsh
1Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. kja3@psu.edu
Summary
Nonsyndromic unilateral coronal synostosis (UCS) affects brain morphology beyond the skull. Brain alterations in UCS patients occur throughout the entire brain volume, not just near the fused suture.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Craniofacial Biology
Background:
- Craniosynostosis, premature fusion of skull sutures, is influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors.
- The brain's morphology in craniosynostosis remains understudied despite skull-brain interaction during development.
- Nonsyndromic unilateral coronal synostosis (UCS) presents an opportunity to investigate these interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define brain morphology in nonsyndromic unilateral coronal synostosis (UCS).
- To develop comprehensive hypotheses regarding the etiology of craniosynostosis.
Main Methods:
- Collected landmark coordinate data from 3D MRI reconstructions of the brain.
- Analyzed data from UCS patients and a matched normal cohort using Euclidean distance matrix analysis.
Main Results:
- Brains in UCS patients showed overall shape similarity to controls.
- Craniosynostosis effects on the brain were widespread, not localized to adjacent structures.
- Alterations were observed in both cortical and subcortical brain structures.
Conclusions:
- Morphological changes in the brain associated with UCS differ from those in the skull.
- Brain and skull developmental trajectories exhibit significant independence.