title: Craniofacial morphology in pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate craniofacial characteristics in pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective sample of 20 consecutive patients with PWS who had lateral and antero-posterior (AP) cephalograms (14 males and six females; average age 10.2 ± 3 years) was compared to 20 controls matched for age and sex (14 males and six females; average age 10.5 ± 3.7 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cephalometric skeletal measurements were performed twice at a 1-week interval by one calibrated operator, and random error was calculated using Dahlberg's formula. Mean values and standard deviations were computed for all variables. Student's t-test for independent samples was used to determine significant differences between PWS and controls. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cephalometric values for the length of the maxilla (p < 0.01), mandibular length (p < 0.05) at both the ramus (p < 0.05) and the mandibular body (p < 0.01), and posterior and anterior facial height (p < 0.01) were significantly lower in patients with PWS compared to controls. The AP cephalometric analysis revealed a significant reduction (p < 0.01) in maxillary skeletal width, mandibular skeletal width, and interzygomatic distance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric patients with PWS seem to have a general reduction in certain craniofacial skeletal parameters (i.e., maxillary and mandibular length) compared to controls, but this study did not assess the overall craniofacial characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giuca
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inglese
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Dental Clinic, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Dental Clinic, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Dental Clinic, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. marcopasini83@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1430-7535
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Prader-Willi syndrome; cephalometrics; craniofacial morphology