Brachycephaly

What is Brachycephaly (wide head)?

An abnormal skull shape is defined by a decreased diameter measurement between the front and back of the skull. It is usually measured by using the cephalic index (ratio of the maximum width of the head of a living thing, multiplied by 100 and divided by the maximum length front to back), and an index greater than 81% meets the definition of brachycephaly or a wide head. It can also be measured by the presence of an obviously shortened length of the head compared to its width.

Generally, the current system of measuring using the cephalic index is based on average head and skull sizes for caucastion patients. This should be taken into account when diagnosing this symptom or not. It should also be noted that changes in how infants are put to sleep (on their backs in accordance with safe sleep guidelines) has had some impact on head and skull sizes and shape in healthy infants.

Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.

The skull has several crucial functions: it cradles and protects the brain, supports the face and forms the head. It is a bony structure made up of the mandible and cranium.

Symptoms affecting the skull can sometimes be seen with the naked eye, especially if they affect the shape, size and structure of the head and face. Diagnosing a skull-related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.

What should I do next?

In some instances, a wide head or skull may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Brachycephaly, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist.  Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis.  FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.

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Synonyms:
Wide head shape, Wide cranium shape, Broad skull shape, Broad head shape, Broad cranium shape, Short and broad skull, Wide skull shape.
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