Question:

Could tell me all you know about Microcephaly with craniostenosis? If possible, with visual examples and explaining what should be done? Thank you.

Answer:

Microcephaly means the brain is smaller than normal. It is usually associated with developmental delay and mental retardation. There is no treatment or cure for microcephaly. However, children should receive physical therapy, occupational therapy or other interventions to assist with their development. Also, it would be appropriate to find out what caused the microcephaly. Craniosynostosis or craniostenosis means the sutures in the skull have closed sooner than normal. This can lead to an abnormal shape of the head. Surgery is often needed in such cases. Craniosynostosis and microcephaly may be seen together. While not common, if they do occur together, you would want to have the child evaluated for a genetic syndrome. You would want to have a child with either microcephaly or craniosynostosis evaluated by a specialist, such as a geneticist. It is important to find the underlying cause of either of these abnormalities. There is a very nice explanation of craniosynostosis with diagrams at the Crouzon (a type of craniosynostosis) Support Network. The website is below. There is additional information about craniosynostosis at the Craniosynostosis and Positional Plagiocephaly Support group site. Your doctor could recommend a genetics center near you for evaluation or you can locate one near you at the National Society of Genetic Counselors Resource Center website below. 

For more information:

Crouzon Support Network
Craniosynostosis and Positional Plagiocephaly Support
National Society of Genetic Counselors Resource Link

Response by:

Anne Matthews, R.N., Ph.D. Director, Genetic Counseling and Family Studies Center for Human Genetics School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University