UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pediatrics

Title: cephalohematoma

Posted: 2/27/2010 by Rose Chasm, MD (Updated: 3/6/2010)
Click here to contact Rose Chasm, MD

a collection of blood UNDER the periosteum of the outer surface of the skull
occurs in 2.5% of live births
most commonly occurs ove the parietal bones
because the blood is below the periosteum, it will NOT cross suture lines
usually enlarge during the first few days of life, then slowly resolve over weeks or months
significant bleeding is a risk
when the blood resorbs, it can aggravate neonatal jaundice
aspiration and xrays are not routinely indicated