Transcranial Doppler analysis of cerebral hemodynamics in primary craniosynostosis: study in progress.

BACKGROUND

Regional elevations in intracranial pressure (ICP) have been monitored adjacent to areas of cranial stenosis by some authors [9,19,20]; however, noninvasive techniques such as transcranial Doppler (TCD) would be preferable if increased ICP could be detected just as reliably.

METHODS

TCD examinations of basal cerebral arteries were performed in 31 children with skull deformities. Skull X rays and computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were analyzed for degree of cranial vault abnormality, as well as for presence or absence of intracranial pathology. Neurodevelopmental examination and clinical signs of increased ICP, if any, were recorded.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of increased resistivity indices (RI) was 70%. Patients with asymmetric skull deformities (plagiocephaly) or sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly) were statistically more prone to exhibit increased RI compared to previously reported prevalences.

CONCLUSIONS

Because TCD is a convenient, rapid, accurate, and noninvasive method by which to gauge ICP, it should be considered in the preliminary work-up of a patient with craniosynostosis.