Craniosynostosis: diagnostic value of three-dimensional CT reconstruction.
Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) has an important role in determining the presence and extent of congenital and acquired craniofacial deformities. The authors compared the sensitivity and specificity of three-dimensional CT in the detection and characterization of craniosynostosis with that of planar CT and skull radiography. Eighty-two patients with isolated and syndromal synostoses were imaged with CT and three-dimensional CT, and 42 with skull radiography. Three-dimensional CT scan processing was performed by shaded-surface reconstruction, volumetric, and depth-coded methods. Two trained observers read each scan series in a blinded fashion. Diagnostic utility of the images was determined with receiver operating characteristic analysis. The observers ranked three-dimensional shaded images higher than the other types, with three-dimensional volumetric images second and three-dimensional surface images ranked third. Results of this study demonstrate that three-dimensional shaded-surface reconstruction from CT scans is superior to conventional plain radiographs and CT scans in diagnosing craniosynostosis.
Vannier
M W
MW
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110.
Hildebolt
C F
CF
Marsh
J L
JL
Pilgram
T K
TK
McAlister
W H
WH
Shackelford
G D
GD
Offutt
C J
CJ
Knapp
R H
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed