Introduction - An Invariant Approach to Statistical Analysis of Shapes - page 14

ossify. If the suture is closed prematurely, the neurocranium takes on
a characteristic shape that is long and narrow relative to a normal
skull ( Figure 1.4b ) . This condition is referred to as dolichocephaly or
scaphocephaly. There is the potential problem of increased intracranial
pressure and eventual neurological damage in children diagnosed with
sagittal synostosis. For this reason children with a positive diagnosis
of sagittal synostosis almost always undergo surgical suture release
and in some cases, reconstructive surgery.
Landmark data were collected from CT scans of patients ranging in
age from six weeks to seven years with a positive diagnosis of sagittal
synostosis ( Figure 1.5 ) . The majority of the patients were aged from 4
to 14 months. Normal, comparative data were collected from CT scans
of the Bosma collection (Shapiro and Richtsmeier, 1997), a sample of
normal pediatric skulls that were aged by tooth eruption patterns and
chosen to correspond as closely as possible in age to the individuals
that make up the sagittal synostosis sample.