This is the first volume in an interdisciplinary three-book series covering the full range of biological, clinical, and surgical aspects in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with craniofacial malformations. This volume opens by considering general topics such as developmental biology and disease classification and then examines in depth the biological basis of the various malformations, including craniosynostoses, cleft-lip and palate with complex orofacial clefts, branchio-oculo-facial syndromes, rare syndromes, soft tissue malformations, and dysgnathia. Psychological aspects, including psychological evaluation methods and therapies and quality of life issues, are then addressed. Finally, all relevant clinical, radiological, and genetic investigations are described and important diagnostic issues are explored. Featuring numerous high-quality illustrations, the book will be of high value for all clinicians, researchers, and postgraduate students who deal with these malformations. The accompanying two volumes describe treatment principles and present in an atlas manner all relevant surgical techniques in detail. The content of this multivolume set, written by the world's leading research and clinical specialists in their discipline, represents therefore the recent intellect, experience, and state of this medical field.

Introduction.
I General aspects: 1. Normal craniofacial development.- 2. Developmental biology of the face

3. Animal models of facial development.- 4. Anthrophosophical aspects of facial development.- 5. Pathological approaches for craniofacial diseases.- 6. Classification of craniofacial malformations.II Biological basis of disease: 7. Chromosomal aberrations.- 8. Orofacial clefts.- 9. Craniosynostoses.- 10. Branchio-oculo-facial syndromes.- 11. Conjoined twins.- 12. Craniofacial Soft tissue malformations.- 13.Postural head deformations.- 14. Dysgnathias.- 15. Rare craniofacial syndromes. 
III Psychological aspects of disease: 16. Facial appearance and the psychological impact.- 17. Psychological evaluation methods for patients with craniofacial malformations.- 18. Psychological therapies for patients with craniofacial malformations.- 19. Psycho-social impact of craniofacial malformations on treatment and outcome.- 20. Evolution of Craniofacial Surgery.- 21. Quality of life aspects of craniofacial malformations.- 22. Long term outcome of craniofacial surgery.- 23. Benchmarking and cost assessment of craniofacial surgery.- 24. Medical and malpractice claims in craniofacial surgery.IV Diagnostic issues: 25.Clinical Investigations of craniofacial malformations.- 26. Interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of craniofacial malformations.- 27. Craniomaxillofacial investigation.- 28. Neurosurgical investigation of craniofacial malformations.- 29. ENT investigation of craniofacial malformations.- 30. Ocular investigation of craniofacial malformations.- 31. Radiological Investigations of craniofacial malformations.- 32. Genetic investigations of craniofacial malformations.- 33. Speech issues in patients with craniofacial malformations.- 34.Feeding issues in patients with craniofacial malformations.- 35. Breathing disorders in patients with craniofacial malformations.