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Analysis of Craniomaxillofacial Malformations in Mice Using Three-dimensional Microcomputed Tomography

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Normal human craniofacial growth and development from 0 to 4 years.

Ce Liang¹, Antonio Profico², Costantino Buzi^3,4

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK.

Scientific Reports

|June 14, 2023

Summary

Human craniofacial growth shows rapid changes in the first year of life, with significant cranial development. No significant sex differences in overall cranial shape were observed during the first 48 months.

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Area of Science:

Craniofacial biology
Developmental biology
Medical imaging

Background:

Understanding human craniofacial growth and development is crucial for treating related clinical conditions.
Early childhood development involves complex changes in cranial size, shape, and associated soft tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate craniofacial growth and development in the first 48 months of life using clinical CT scans.
To detail sex-specific changes in cranial form and their association with soft tissue development and nasal cavity expansion.
To develop a unified model for human craniofacial growth and development.

Main Methods:

Multivariate analyses of cranial form using 3D landmarks and semi-landmarks.
Analysis of linear dimensions and cranial volumes from extensive clinical CT scan data.
Comparative analysis of craniofacial changes between sexes over the first 48 months of life.

Main Results:

Cranial form changes exhibit accelerations and decelerations throughout early childhood.
Greater cranial form changes occur between 0-12 months compared to 12-48 months.
No significant sexual dimorphism in overall cranial shape development was found in the studied age range.

Conclusions:

A single model of human craniofacial growth and development is proposed for future research.
The findings provide insights into the physio-mechanical interactions governing craniofacial development.
This study contributes to a better understanding of normal craniofacial development in early childhood.