From what I've read and understand from the pediatrician, Brendon's soft spot has become not soft too soon.  This is called craniosynostosis.

Cranio - having to do with the cranium (skull), and synostosis which is a fusion of one or more bones into a single bone.  Synostosis is not abnormal. In Brendon's case, his synostosis happened too soon to allow for his brain to finish growing.  Babies born with the bones fused are at the most risk for brain damage.

Brendon's CT scan appeared to show sagittal suture craniosynostosis, possible partial fusion of the coronal suture and the squamosal suture appeared to be fused.

What is a suture?

A baby's head is made up of sections, and the spaces between the sections are called sutures.  These spaces are suppose to stay open so that the brain can grow.  When the baby is 18 - 24 months old the edges of the sections start to fuse into a solid bone (the skull).

There are different ways the sutures (spaces) can fuse.  One of Brendon's is solid already, another is almost solid.  Because the skull can't expand the way it should, his forehead is bulging out more every day, and the back of his head is shaped oddly.

The sagittal suture runs from front to back and premature closing of it causes a long, narrow head shape.  Treatment involves surgically removing bone from the midline sagittal suture.  The fused sutures are released and the bones are all repositioned to allow for normal brain growth and to relieve the pressure on the eyes and brain.

The coronal sutures run across the top of the head (sort of from ear to ear).  The finding suggests that there may be partial fusion of this one, too.  The coronal suture is split in the middle by the sagittal suture running from front to back.

I took photos of Brendon's head, but the odd appearance is more of a 3-D thing and it doesn't show up very well in a picture.  From the top his head has a triangular shape, with a broad, bulging forehead which comes to a smaller width at the back of his head. From the side his head looks elongated.  From the back view, straight on, you can't really see the narrowness in a photo.

FACES: The National Craniofacial Association There are some gruesome photos on this page which show just how bad this condition can be, and we can be grateful that Brendon's case has not progressed to that point.

• http://www.babylukeelijah.homestead.com/luke.html
• http://theemericks.homestead.com/CS.html - graphic photos after the surgery.