Scaphocephaly

What it means

Scaphocephaly is a subtype of dolichocephaly where the anterior and posterior aspects of the cranial vault are pointed (boat-shaped). Scaphocephaly is caused by a precocious fusion of sagittal suture without other associated synostosis.

Dolichocephaly is a term in wide use to describe any long narrow head, with a cephalic index usually below 75%. Scaphocephaly, derived from the Greek skaphe (a light boat or skiff), describes a specific variety of a long narrow head that resembles an inverted boat with a keel. Scaphocephaly thus refers to an inverted keellike appearance to the skull, with the widest part of the skull in the temporal rather than parietal area and with palpable ridging over part or all of the sagittal suture (PMID:16156241).

Rare diseases that can present with this7

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category