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Normal sagittal and coronal suture widths by using CT imaging
L A Mitchell1, C A Kitley, T L Armitage
1Department of Radiology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 96589, USA. lex.a.mitchell@us.army.mil
Insights
This study provides crucial normative data for pediatric cranial suture widths in infants up to one year old using CT scans. These findings aid in diagnosing suture diastasis in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Craniofacial Anatomy
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Abnormal pediatric cranial suture diastasis requires accurate normative data for diagnosis.
- Existing CT measurement data for infant suture widths is limited.
- This study addresses the need for comprehensive normative data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normal mean values for sagittal and coronal suture widths in infants.
- To utilize CT measurements for assessing pediatric cranial sutures.
- To provide a reference for diagnosing suture diastasis in the first year of life.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 483 infant patients (1 day to 395 days old).
- Evaluation of sagittal and bilateral coronal suture widths using CT scans.
- Statistical analysis including ANOVA to determine age-related changes.
Main Results:
- Initial average widths at birth: sagittal 5.0 mm, coronal 2.5 mm.
- Significant narrowing within the first month: sagittal to 2.4 mm, coronal to 1.3 mm.
- Gradual narrowing observed between 1 and 12 months, with coronal sutures reducing to 0.8 mm.
Conclusions:
- CT-derived normative values for infant suture widths are established.
- These values can assist in evaluating infant calvaria for suture diastasis.
- Provides a reliable reference for pediatricians and radiologists.
Background And Purpose:
Pediatric cranial sutures are often evaluated for abnormal diastasis upon presentation to the emergency department after trauma or during a neurologic consultation; however, few normative data for CT measurements exist. This study establishes normal means for the sagittal and coronal suture widths during the first year of life by using CT.
Materials And Methods:
The sagittal suture and bilateral coronal sutures were evaluated for 483 patients, ages 1 day to 395 days collected retrospectively from electronic medical records. Histograms as well as normality and boxplots were used to view the distribution of the data. An analysis of variance was performed for each suture measured by using month of age as the independent class variable.
Results:
The average proximal suture widths for the sagittal and coronal sutures at zero months of age were 5.0 ± 0.2 and 2.5 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. From zero to 1 month of age, these sutures narrowed significantly to 2.4 ± 0.1 and 1.3 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. From 1 to 12 months of age, sutures narrowed gradually. The proximal coronal suture widths showed a significant reduction from 1 month to 12 months (1.3 ± 0.1-0.8 ± 0.1 mm).
Conclusions:
The normative values for suture widths established by CT scan among this large population may be used to assess the infant calvaria for suture diastasis.
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