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Evaluating Cranial Growth in Japanese Infants Using a Three-dimensional Scanner: Relationship between Growth-related
Hiroshi Miyabayashi1,2, Nobuhiko Nagano1, Shin Hashimoto2
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Nihon University School of Medicine.
Insights
This study tracked cranial shape in 88 healthy Japanese infants up to 6 months using 3D scanning. Cranial measurements increased linearly over time, with sex differences noted, but deformational plagiocephaly had no impact.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric imaging
- Craniofacial development
- Infant growth studies
Background:
- Accurate assessment of infant cranial shape is crucial for monitoring development.
- Establishing normative data for cranial growth is essential for identifying deviations.
- Previous studies may lack longitudinal, 3D data for healthy infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally evaluate cranial shape changes in healthy Japanese infants.
- To create a normative database for infant cranial growth using 3D scanning.
- To analyze growth parameters and identify influencing factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D scanning for longitudinal data collection at 1, 3, and 6 months.
- Excluded preterm infants, those with neonatal asphyxia, and those undergoing helmet therapy.
- Analyzed cranial length, width, height, circumference, volume, asymmetry index, and cephalic index.
Main Results:
- All measured cranial parameters showed linear growth from 1 to 6 months.
- Significant sex differences were observed in most cranial parameters, excluding length.
- Deformational plagiocephaly did not significantly affect the observed growth parameters.
Conclusions:
- Cranial volume increased by approximately 60% between 1 and 6 months of age.
- Growth patterns were generally uniform across coordinate axes.
- The generated 3D data provides a valuable reference for medical professionals in cranioplasty and infant care.
Abstract:
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the longitudinal changes in the cranial shape of healthy Japanese infants using a three-dimensional scanner and construct a normal values database for the growth process. Preterm infants (gestational age < 37 weeks), infants with neonatal asphyxia (5-minute Apgar score of <7), and patients who started helmet therapy for deformational plagiocephaly were excluded from this study. The first scan was performed at approximately 1 month of age, followed by two scans conducted at 3 and 6 months of age. The parameters considered were as follows: cranial length, width, height, circumference, volume, cranial vault asymmetry index, and cephalic index. A cranial vault asymmetry index >5% was defined as deformational plagiocephaly. Changes in each parameter were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance classified by sex and deformational plagiocephaly status. The rate of increase in each parameter was also examined. In total, 88 infants (45 boys and 43 girls) were included in this study. All growth-related parameters were noted to increase linearly with time. Sex differences were observed in all parameters except cranial length. Deformational plagiocephaly was found to have no effect on growth-related parameters. Cranial volume increased by 60% from 1 to 6 months of age. The growth almost uniformly influenced the rate of increase in volume in each coordinate axis direction. Overall, the mean trends in three-dimensional parameters in infants up to 6 months of age were obtained using a three-dimensional scanner. These trends could be used as a guide by medical professionals involved in cranioplasty.
