Differential diagnosis of the trapezoid-shaped head.

Objective: To recognize several conditions that result in a trapezoid head shape and review and contrast their various physical findings.

Methods: A detailed review of all patients seen in the Craniofacial Clinic at the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, over a 10-year period from 1991 to 2001, with the diagnosis of craniosynostosis and plagiocephaly was performed. During this period, 690 patients had a surgical correction of craniosynostosis, and 1537 patients had posterior plagiocephaly.