Morphometrics, Optical 3D Imaging, and Monitoring of Craniofacial Development and Malformations

Morphometrics is one important mainstay in monitoring craniofacial malformations. Optical 3D investigations enable the precise documentation of the phenotype during the development of the facial appearance during the growth, as well as altered through treatments and surgeries. In this chapter, some of the basic techniques used to monitor the craniofacial development and to analyze malformations are presented. Since the focus is on the surface structures of the neuro- and viscerocranium, optical 3D measurement techniques are particularly suitable for recording these structures. Compared to other techniques, these have the advantage of operating both contact-free and without exposure to ionizing radiation. Different technological approaches from this field are presented. Approaches for the quantitative representation of morphometric parameters are discussed. The mirror symmetry of the face plays a special role in some of the craniofacial disease entities (branchial arch diseases, clefts, head deformations). Examples for its quantitative representation and evaluation are presented. Finally, some generalized approaches to compare different facial structures and future directions based on the evaluation of landmarks are introduced.