title: Ellipsoid analysis of calvarial shape.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to develop a novel quantitative method of describing calvarial shape by using ellipsoid geometry. The pilot application of Ellipsoid Analysis was to compare calvarial form among individuals with untreated unilateral coronal synostosis, metopic synostosis, and sagittal synostosis and normal subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frontal, parietal, and occipital bones of 10 preoperative patients for each of the four study groups were bilaterally segmented into six regions using three-dimensional skull reconstructions generated by ANALYZE imaging software from high-resolution computed tomography scans. Points along each segment were extracted and manipulated using a MATLAB-based program. The points were fit to the least-squares nearest ellipsoid. Relationships between the six resultant right and left frontal, parietal, and occipital ellipsoidal centroids (FR, FL, PR, PL, OR, and OL, respectively) were tested for association with a synostotic group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from the pilot study showed meaningful differences between length ratio, angular, and centroid distance relationships among synostotic groups. The most substantial difference was exhibited in the centroid distance PL-PR between patients with sagittal synostosis and metopic synostosis. The measures most commonly significant were centroid distances FL-PR and FL-PL and the angle OR-FR-PR. Derived centroid relationships were reproducible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ellipsoid Analysis may offer a more refined approach to quantitative analysis of cranial shape. Symmetric and asymmetric forms can be compared directly. Relevant shape information between traditional landmarks is characterized. These techniques may have wider applicability in quantifying craniofacial morphology with increase in both specificity and general applicability over current methods.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Petra A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Devra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Govier
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Krantz
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kane
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods