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3D photogrammetry is potentially a reliable tool for treatment planning and follow-up of abnormal head shapes in infancy.

Cranial asymmetries due to nonsynostotic deformation of the skull have been reported with increasing frequency during the last decade. Conservative approaches using helmets and physiotherapy have been shown to be effective in their treatment. Traditionally, documentation has been carried out using anthropometric caliper measurements. The present study evaluates the use of a new three-dimensional photographic system in the improved validation of changes in head deformities. This prospective analysis introduces a new technique for digital anthropometric measurement. The study series comprised 181 children with nonsynostotic head deformities. Three-dimensional photographs were obtained before and after treatment with an orthotic helmet device. The oblique head diagonals and head width and length were measured from three-dimensional photographs using 3dMD customer software. The cranial vault asymmetry index, cranial vault asymmetry, and cranial index were compared before and after treatment. The measurements obtained on three-dimensional images were able to demonstrate significant improvement in early infant cranial deformity after treatment with an orthotic helmet. The cranial vault asymmetry index in plagiocephaly was reduced by 7.16%, and cranial vault asymmetry was reduced by 0.86 cm. The cranial index in brachycephaly decreased by 7.32%. In children with combined plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, the cranial vault asymmetry index improved by 5.77%, cranial vault asymmetry improved by 0.71 cm, whereas the cranial index changed by 5.48%. Three-dimensional photogrammetry can support treatment control in patients with deformational plagiocephaly. This new technology offers several advantages such as easy acquisition of images, detection of landmarks without patient movement, repeatable measurements without patient discomfort, and the opportunity for unbiased evaluation.

: (1) Aim of the study: In spite of extensive research, up to 20% of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) patients cannot be safely classified. We analyzed clinical features, progression factors, and outcomes of unclassifiable ILD (uILD). (2) Methods: A total of 140 uILD subjects from the University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC) were recruited between 11/2009 and 01/2019 into the European Registry for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (eurIPFreg) and followed until 01/2020. The diagnosis of uILD was applied only when a conclusive diagnosis could not be reached with certainty. (3) Results: In 46.4% of the patients, the uILD diagnosis was due to conflicting clinical, radiological, and pathological data. By applying the diagnostic criteria of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) based on computed tomography (CT), published by the Fleischner Society, 22.2% of the patients displayed a typical UIP pattern. We also showed that forced vital capacity (FVC) at baseline (p = 0.008), annual FVC decline ≥10% (p < 0.0001), smoking (p = 0.033), and a diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) ≤55% of predicted value at baseline (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with progressive disease. (4) Conclusions: The most important prognostic factors in uILD are baseline level and decline in lung function and smoking. The use of Fleischner diagnostic criteria allows further differentiation and accurate diagnosis.

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Long-term results after aortic valve replacement with stentless biological prostheses compare favorably with those obtained with stented bioprostheses.