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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
Craniofacial morphology in pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome: a retrospective study
M R Giuca1, R Inglese1, S Caruso2
1Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Objective:
To investigate craniofacial characteristics in pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).
Setting And Sample Population:
A retrospective sample of 20 consecutive patients with PWS who had lateral and antero-posterior (AP) cephalograms (14 males and six females; average age 10.2 ± 3 years) was compared to 20 controls matched for age and sex (14 males and six females; average age 10.5 ± 3.7 years).
Materials And Methods:
Cephalometric skeletal measurements were performed twice at a 1-week interval by one calibrated operator, and random error was calculated using Dahlberg's formula. Mean values and standard deviations were computed for all variables. Student's t-test for independent samples was used to determine significant differences between PWS and controls. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Cephalometric values for the length of the maxilla (p < 0.01), mandibular length (p < 0.05) at both the ramus (p < 0.05) and the mandibular body (p < 0.01), and posterior and anterior facial height (p < 0.01) were significantly lower in patients with PWS compared to controls. The AP cephalometric analysis revealed a significant reduction (p < 0.01) in maxillary skeletal width, mandibular skeletal width, and interzygomatic distance.
Conclusions:
Pediatric patients with PWS seem to have a general reduction in certain craniofacial skeletal parameters (i.e., maxillary and mandibular length) compared to controls, but this study did not assess the overall craniofacial characteristics.
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