Scaphocephaly is a congenital skull deformity that occurs due to the premature closure of the sagittal suture. The resultant skull dysmorphia can cause increased intracranial pressure, leading to ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus. Previous research focuses on the cranium, with only few studies having analyzed the ventricular system in scaphocephaly. This study aimed to evaluate the morphometry of the ventricular system in patients with scaphocephaly, compared with normal individuals. Computerized tomography scans of 20 patients diagnosed with scaphocephaly and those of 20 control patients were utilized. The following linear dimensions were measured: right and left frontal horn length, third ventricle width, and fourth ventricle length and width. The following linear indices were calculated: Evans index, Bifrontal index, Bicaudate index, Bicaudate frontal index, Bicaudate temporal index, and the Huckman number.
The right and left frontal horn length and the third ventricle width were significantly larger in scaphocephaly. The Evans index (p<0.001), bifrontal index (p=0.002), bicaudate index (p=0.003), and bicaudate temporal index (p<0.001) were significantly increased in scaphocephaly compared to the control group. The linear indices were larger in females when compared to males, while the linear dimensions were larger in males than in females in both study groups. The parameters increased with advancing age. The Evans, Bifrontal, Bicaudate Frontal, and Bicaudate temporal indices were significantly larger in the severe scaphocephaly group as opposed to the control group. The ventricles are enlarged in scaphocephaly, mainly observed in the anterior aspect, and ventricular constriction in the posterior aspect of the brain. The ventricular morphometry is also affected by age, sex, and severity of deformity.
