Diagnosis

Craniosynostosis requires evaluation by specialists, such as a pediatric neurosurgeon or a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Diagnosis of craniosynostosis may include:

• Physical exam. Your doctor will feel your baby's head for abnormalities such as suture ridges, and look for facial deformities.
• Imaging studies. A computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your baby's skull can show whether any sutures have fused. Cranial ultrasound imaging may be used. Fused sutures are identifiable by their absence, because they're invisible once fused, or by the ridging of the suture line. A laser scan and photographs also may be used to make precise measurements of the skull shape.
• Genetic testing. If your doctor suspects an underlying genetic syndrome, genetic testing may help identify the syndrome.