3D facial morphometry in Italian patients affected by Aicardi syndrome |
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Authors: | Silvia Masnada Daniele Gibelli Claudia Dolci Valentina De Giorgis Annalisa Cappella Pierangelo Veggiotti Chiarella Sforza The Italian Aicardi Study Group |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Child Neurology, V. Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy;2. Functional Anatomy Research Center (FARC), Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico (LAFAS), Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;3. IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy;4. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy;5. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6532-6464;6. Chiarella Sforza, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy. |
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Abstract: | Aicardi syndrome (AIC) is a rare congenital neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology, that affects almost exclusively females, originally characterized by corpus callosum agenesis, chorioretinal lacunae, and infantile spasms. The current diagnostic criteria also include qualitative facial features (prominent premaxilla, upturned nasal tip, decreased nasal bridge angle, sparse lateral eyebrows, and microphthalmia) that still need quantification. A three‐dimensional (3D) photogrammetric assessment of 11 Italian females, age 7–32 years, who satisfied AIC criteria, was performed. Linear distances and angles were computed from soft‐tissue facial landmarks coordinates. The z‐score values were calculated using data of 850 healthy reference females matched for age and compared by Mann–Whitney test (p < .01). Patients showed a shorter philtrum and right side orbital height (mean z‐scores: ?1.7, ?0.9), shorter superior, middle, and inferior facial depths (mean z‐scores: ?1.3, ?2.2, ?2.3), and a smaller length of mandibular ramus (mean z‐score: ?2.1); conversely, they showed larger nasal and lower facial widths, and lower facial convexity (mean z‐scores: 1.7, 1.4, 2.4). The inclinations of the orbit versus the true horizontal were increased bilaterally (mean z‐scores: 1.8, 1.1). Some common facial abnormalities were quantified in AIC patients using a noninvasive instrument. They may help clinicians in performing a definite AIC diagnosis in atypical or doubt cases. |
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Keywords: | 3D Aicardi syndrome face neurology stereophotogrammetry |
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