Table 2.

Table summarizing major advantages and disadvantages of the most relevant neuroimaging techniques for diagnosis, pre-operative surgical planning, and post-operative monitoring of patients with non-syndromic craniosynostosis.

Neuroimaging	Advantages	Disadvantages
Ultrasound	Non-irradiating technique Fast and repeatable Non-invasive No sedation required Widely available Low-cost	User-dependent Inconclusive if poor patients’cooperation Limited use in relatively advanced-age patients Poor evaluation of deeper structures
Computed tomography	Fast acquisition Readily accessible Sedation generally not required Widely available Limited cost Excellent bone evaluation Multiplanar and 3D reconstructions easily available	Irradiating technique (thus repeated CT scans over time should be limited) Limited evaluation of soft tissues and associated brain abnormalities Iodinated contrast media required for vascular structures depiction
Magnetic resonance imaging	Non-irradiating technique Repeatable over time Excellent soft tissue definition Excellent potential due to advanced techniques Gadolinium-based contrast media generally not required Reference method for associated brain and spine abnormalities search	Sedation usually required Not always readily accessible Long acquisition Higher cost Specific professional experience required for data interpretation Longer data post-processing
Digital subtraction angiography	Excellent vascular structures depiction Real-time observation of blood flow dynamics Potentially combinable with interventional procedures, when required (cost-effective)	Irradiating technique More invasive Specific professional experience required Iodinated contrast media always required Sedation usually required Higher cost Not always readily accessible Limited spatial resolution Very poor or no evaluation of structures other than vascular