Cervical vertebral maturation method: growth timing versus growth amount

We have read with interest a recent study by Engel et al. (1) on the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method and amount of craniofacial growth, including mandibular growth, in untreated Class II girls. This is an intriguing study; however, the interpretation of the data may be easily misunderstood if two distinct concepts are not clearly addressed. These concepts are: 1. the diagnostic accuracy of the CVM in predicting the timing of mandibular growth peak and 2. the capability of the CVM in predicting the total amount of mandibular growth from pre-pubertal to post-pubertal phases, irrespective of timing of pubertal growth peak.