Purpose

The aim is to implement Utrecht Cranial Shape Quantificator (UCSQ) for quantification of severity of scaphocephaly and compare UCSQ with the most used quantification method, cranial index (CI). Additionally, severity is linked to intracranial volume (ICV).

Methods

Sinusoid curves of 21 pre-operative children (age < 2 years) with isolated scaphocephaly were created. Variables of UCSQ (width of skull and maximum occiput and forehead) were combined to determine severity. CI was calculated. Three raters performed visual scoring for clinical severity (rating of 6 items; total score of 12 represents most severe form). Pearson’s correlation test was used for correlation between UCSQ and visual score and between both CIs. ICV was calculated using OsiriX. ICV was compared to normative values and correlated to severity.

Results

Mean UCSQ was 22.00 (2.00–42.00). Mean traditional CI was 66.01 (57.36–78.58), and mean visual score was 9.1 (7–12). Correlations between both traditional CI and CI of UCSQ and overall visual scores were moderate and high (r = − 0.59; p = 0.005 vs. r = − 0.81; p < 0.000). Mean ICV was 910 mL (671–1303), and ICV varied from decreased to increased compared to normative values. Negligible correlation was found between ICV and UCSQ (r = 0.26; p > 0.05) and between ICV and CI and visual score (r = − 0.30; p > 0.05 and r = 0.17; p > 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion

Our current advice is to use traditional CI in clinical practice; it is easy to use and minimally invasive. However, UCSQ is more precise and objective and captures whole skull shape. Therefore, UCSQ is preferable for research. Additionally, more severe scaphocephaly does not result in more deviant skull volumes.

中文翻译：

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量化与颅内容积相关的孤立性头颅畸形严重程度的新方法

目的

目的是实施乌特勒支颅骨形状量化器（UCSQ）来量化头颅畸形的严重程度，并将UCSQ与最常用的量化方法颅骨指数（CI）进行比较。此外，严重程度与颅内容积（ICV）相关。

方法

绘制了21例分离出的肩cap畸形的术前儿童（年龄小于2岁）的正弦曲线。将UCSQ的变量（头骨的宽度以及最大的枕骨和额头）组合起来以确定严重程度。计算CI。3名评分者对临床严重程度进行了视觉评分（6项评分；总分12代表最严重的形式）。Pearson的相关性检验用于UCSQ和视觉评分之间以及两个CI之间的相关性。使用OsiriX计算ICV。将ICV与标准值进行比较，并将其与严重程度相关。

结果

平均UCSQ为22.00（2.00-42.00）。传统CI平均为66.01（57.36–78.58），平均视觉得分为9.1（7-12）。UCSQ的传统CI和CI与总体视觉评分之间的相关性为中等和较高（r  = − 0.59；p  = 0.005与r  = − 0.81；p  <0.000）。平均ICV为910毫升（671–1303），与标准值相比，ICV从降低到升高。可忽略的相关性被发现ICV和UCSQ之间（[R  = 0.26; p  > 0.05）和ICV和CI和视觉评分之间（[R  = - 0.30; p  > 0.05和- [R  = 0.17; p  > 0.05）。

结论

我们目前的建议是在临床实践中使用传统CI。它易于使用且具有最小的侵入性。但是，UCSQ更精确和客观，可以捕获整个头骨形状。因此，UCSQ在研究中更可取。此外，更严重的头颅畸形不会导致颅骨体积变大。