symptoms

Dolicocefalia - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Dolichocephaly is a condition in which the skull takes on a narrow and elongated anterior-posterior shape. Specifically, this conformation is defined when the percentage ratio between width and length of the head assumes a maximum value of 75-76%.

A minor dolichocephaly can occur after a twin or breech birth. In this case, the anomalous conformation of the skull tends to normalize spontaneously in the days following birth.

Dolichocephaly can occur in the presence of:

  • maternal metabolic disorders (hyperthyroidism, rickets, hypercalcaemia and mucopolysaccharidosis),
  • hematologic diseases (thalassemia and sickle cell disease),
  • fetal malformations (holoprosencephaly, microcephaly and encephalocele)
  • various genetic disorders, including achondroplasia, trisomy 18 and Apert syndrome.

Sometimes, this conformation is found as a malformation secondary to a craniosistosis, a process that involves the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures.

Dolicocefalia can also be secondary to teratogenic agents taken by the pregnant woman (including hydantoin, retinoids, valproate and cyclophosphamide) or other iatrogenic causes (eg rapid decompression due to hydrocephalus, uterine hypercompression on the fetal head, etc.).

Dolichocephaly may also not depend on associated disorders. Risk factors include prematurity (gestational age less than 37 weeks) and low birth weight (<2500 g).

Skull with Delicately Induced Dolichocephaly. From Wikipedia.org

Possible Causes * of Dolicocefalia

  • Achondroplasia
  • Anemia
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Marfan syndrome
  • thalassemia
  • Trisomy 18