ABSTRACT
A 4-day old neonate presented with a midline swelling located on the back of its head. The two most likely causes of the swelling were cephalohematoma, which is self-limiting and carries a benign prognosis, and encephalocele, often associated with central nervous system malformations. Evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a subperiosteal blood collection with intact underlying structures, establishing the diagnosis of a cephalohematoma. This is the first report to show the value of MRI in distinguishing between an occipital cephalohematoma and an encephalocele.
KEYWORDS
Cephalohematoma - encephalocele - MRI - neonate - occipital swelling
REFERENCES
-
1 Taeusch H W, Ballard R A, Gleason C A. Avery's disease of the newborn. 8th ed. Philadelphia; WB Saunders 2005: 941-942, 980
-
2 Nyberg D A, Mack L A. The spine and neural tube defects. In: Nyberg DA, Mahoney BS, Pretorius DH et al Diagnostic Ultrasound of Fetal Anomalies: Text and Atlas. Chicago; Year Book Medical 1990: 152-160
-
3
Martinez-Lage J F, Capel A, Costa T R, Perez-Espejo M A, Poza M.
The child with a mass on its head: diagnostic and surgical strategies.
Childs Nerv Syst.
1992;
8
247-252
-
4
Moron F E, Morriss M C, Jones J J, Hunter J V.
Lumps and bumps on the head of children: use of CT and MR imaging in solving the clinical diagnostic dilemma.
Radiographics.
2004;
24
1655-1674
-
5 Gabbe S G, Niebyl J R, Simpson J L. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 3rd ed. London; Churchill-Livingstone 1996: 661-662
-
6
Petrikovsky B M, Schneider E, Smith-Levitin M, Gross B.
Cephalhematoma and caput succedaneum: do they always occur in labor?.
Am J Obstet Gynecol.
1998;
179
906-908
-
7
Winter T C, Mack L A, Cyr D R.
Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of scalp edema/cephalohematoma mimicking an encephalocele.
AJR Am J Roentgenol.
1993;
161
1247-1248
-
8
Chan M SM, Wong Y, Lau S PC, Lau K, Ou Y.
MRI and CT findings of infected cephalhaematoma complicated by skull vault osteomyelitis, transverse venous sinus thrombosis and cerebellar haemorrhage.
Pediatr Radiol.
2002;
32
376-379
-
9
Chen M H, Yang J C, Huang J S, Chen M H.
MRI features of an infected cephalhaematoma in a neonate.
J Clin Neurosci.
1984;
150
535-540
-
10
Amaral L, Chiurciu M, Almedia J R, Ferreira N F, Mendonca R, Lima S S.
MR imaging for lesions of the cranial vault.
Arq Neuropsiquiatr.
2003;
61
521-532
Vera van TellingenM.D.
Department of Paediatrics, St. Elisabeth Hospital
Hilvarenbeekseweg 60, PO Box 90151, 5000 LC, Tilburg, The Netherlands
