Shaping craniofacial microsomia diagnostics and classification

The thesis “Shaping Craniofacial Microsomia Diagnostics and Classification” explores current diagnostic and classification practices and the use of digital stereophotogrammetry (three-dimensional photography) for quantitatively measuring facial morphology and classifying severity in patients with craniofacial microsomia (CFM). In part one, this thesis demonstrates that clinicians approve of standardizing care while seeking personalized clinical care pathways for CFM, and identifies restrictions in the use of the current classification system for personalizing care early in the diagnostic process. Part two establishes that digital stereophotogrammetry can be used to quantify facial shape in patients with CFM in a clinically relevant way, and that it may be a promising tool for identifying patients who should be preferentially screened for craniofacial and extracraniofacial anomalies, as well as feeding and breathing difficulties.