The full form of OFC in medical term is “occipital-frontal head circumference.”
Measurement of the circumference of the head from the largest point located at the back of the skull (occipital) to the largest point located on the forehead is known as the occipitofrontal head circumference (OFC) (frontal). Paediatricians frequently use this measurement to monitor the development and growth of babies and young children.
A measuring tape is wrapped around the greatest part of the head, right above the eyebrows and ears, to get an exact measurement of the OFC. To determine whether the child’s head circumference is within a typical range for their gender and age, the measure is then checked to standardized growth charts.
The OFC test is a crucial marker of newborns’ and kids’ developing brains. It is a key technique for determining brain development during the first few years of life. Usually, the OFC measurement is performed at birth and then periodically during the first two years of life.
Several disorders, such as hydrocephalus (excessive fluid collection in the brain), microcephaly (an unusually small head size), and macrocephaly, might be indicated by abnormalities in OFC values (an unusually large head size). Aberrant OFC values might indicate neurological disorders or developmental delays in some circumstances.
It is crucial to remember that while OFC measurements may be useful for monitoring newborns’ and young children’s brain growth, they shouldn’t be used alone to diagnose any medical condition.