QUANTIFICATION OF FACIAL MORPHOLOGY USING STEREOPHOTOGRAMMETRY - DEMONSTRATION OF A NEW CONCEPT

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to introduce stereophotogram metry as a three-dimensional registration method for quantifying facia l morphology and detecting changes in facial morphology during growth and development. Methods: Using stereophotogrammetry, three-dimensiona l (3-D) co-ordinates for the bilateral landmarks Exocanthion and Cheil ion and the midsagittal landmark Pronasale were determined in 10 subje cts to ascertain the reproducibility of the method, and in 59 children to detect changes in facial morphology due to growth and development. Linear and angular measurements were calculated by means of the 3-D c o-ordinates in order to quantify facial morphology. Significant differ ences were determined by means of analyses of variance (MANOVA). Resul ts: During the observation period, significant (P<0.01) changes in fac ial morphology were determined for the linear measurements. Advantages and disadvantages of current registration methods are discussed. Conc lusion: It is concluded that stereophotogrammetry is a suitable 3-D re gistration method for quantifying and detecting developmental changes in facial morphology. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.