What is the Difference Between Brachycephaly and Microcephaly?

Brachycephaly and microcephaly are two different abnormal head conditions in infants. The key difference between them is:

• Brachycephaly: This condition is characterized by a flattened area at the back of the skull in infants. It results from a decrease in the anterioposterior dimension of the skull, often due to bilateral premature fusion of the skull sutures. Brachycephaly is more common than microcephaly and can be observed in some domesticated dog and cat breeds as a desirable trait.
• Microcephaly: This condition is characterized by a much smaller head than expected in infants. It is diagnosed by measuring the occipitofrontal circumference (OFC), which should be below the third percentile or more than 3 standard deviations below the mean for the child's age and sex. Individuals with microcephaly have a brain weight of less than 900 g. Microcephaly can occur as an isolated defect or as part of a syndrome of defects, and it is estimated to occur in 2 to 12 children per 10,000 births.

These conditions can be easily diagnosed through physical evaluation after birth, but they have different etiologies and should be managed differently in clinical setups.

Comparative Table: Brachycephaly vs Microcephaly

Brachycephaly and microcephaly are two different conditions that result in an abnormality in the shape of the skull in infants. Here is a table comparing the key differences between the two:

Both conditions are congenital disorders, and they can be easily diagnosed through physical evaluation after birth. However, they have different characteristics and consequences:

• Brachycephaly is a more common condition than microcephaly. It results in a flattened area at the back of the skull, causing the head to widen, and occasionally the forehead bulges out. In most cases, it does not have any effect on the brain, and the head shape will often improve by itself over time.
• Microcephaly, on the other hand, is characterized by a much smaller head than expected in infants. Individuals with microcephaly have a brain weight of less than 900 g. It can occur as an isolated defect or as part of the syndrome of defects.