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Updated: Jan 14, 2026
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Difference in anterior fontanelle closure between non-syndromic craniosynostosis and normal controls: a retrospective
Jinhua Fu1, Qijia Zhan2, Jiangang Liu2
1Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Background:
This study aimed to investigate the differences in anterior fontanelle closure time and size between children with non-syndromic craniosynostosis and controls on CT imaging.
Methods:
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted involving 182 children with non-syndromic craniosynostosis and 2,777 age-matched controls (≤ 36 months). The status, size, and timing of anterior fontanelle closure were compared between the two groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to assess the diagnostic value of anterior fontanelle measurements. Additionally, correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between age and fontanelle size.
Results:
Patients with craniosynostosis exhibited higher closure rates under 24 months, particularly at 7-9 months (22.7% vs. 3.2%, P < 0.0001) and 10-12 months (50.0% vs. 6.9%, P < 0.0001), but lower closure rates at 25-36 months (80.0% vs. 94.0%, P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis identified an optimal cut-off age for fontanelle closure of 9.5 months in craniosynostosis patients (AUC = 0.85) and 17.5 months in controls (AUC = 0.93). Spearman correlation analysis revealed weaker relationships between age and fontanelle size in craniosynostosis patients compared to controls.
Conclusions:
Anterior fontanelle measurements, particularly closure timing and size, have potential as assistant markers for the early identification of craniosynostosis. However, definitive diagnosis requires clinical evaluation and imaging confirmation. These findings underscore the importance of early recognition and intervention in craniosynostosis to prevent complications.
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