Comparison of 3D facial photographs and clinical documentation in patients with craniofacial morphea

Abstract

Diagnosis of craniofacial morphea (CM) relies upon clinical examination of progressive craniofacial changes. We assess the utility of 3D stereophotogrammetry in documenting asymmetry of the face compared to clinical notetaking. This retrospective study of 3D images and clinical documentation included 32 patients (mean age 15.7 years) with CM. A panel of specialists identified additional areas of asymmetry (those highlighted in 3D photographs that were not noted in clinical documentation) and categorised them as likely, ambiguously or unlikely related to CM. 28 patients (87.5%) had asymmetries noted on 3D photos that were not documented in clinical notes. In 46.4% of them, additional areas were deemed consistent with CM. In the remaining patients, additional asymmetries were ambiguous (42.9%) or not thought to be related to CM (10.7%). Our results suggest that adjunctive use of 3D stereophotogrammetry enhances the documentation of CM at discrete clinical time points and therefore could be a better comparative reference during later re‐examination.