Open AccessOssified cephalhematoma: An unusual cause of calvarial mass in infancy
Author(s) -
Prasad Krishnan,
Madhivanan Karthigeyan,
Pravin Salunke
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of pediatric neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1998-3948
pISSN - 1817-1745
DOI - 10.4103/jpn.jpn_181_16
Subject(s) - medicine , disfigurement , scalp , apprehension , surgery , craniosynostosis , psychology , cognitive psychology
Cephalhematomas occurring in newborn usually resolve within a month. Rarely, they tend to ossify and present as hard scalp swelling. Unless one is aware of this possibility, this condition may be misinterpreted as bony tumor and cause needless apprehension to parents as well as the treating physician. A suspicion that ossified cephalhematoma (OC) could present in such a manner supported by careful history taking and relevant imaging (X-ray/computed tomography) would help in appropriate evaluation of this benign condition. The management of OC is controversial. Occasionally, they undergo spontaneous remodeling. Those with secondary craniosynostosis and/or disfigurement are treated surgically. Simple ossified lesions with no significant cosmetic issues may be conservatively tackled. We report such a case in a 3-month-old child. The other management options are briefly discussed.