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Clinical approach to the child with a large head
1Section of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|October 24, 2001
Summary
Most children have normal head sizes. However, some infants may have abnormally large heads (macrocephaly), often linked to cranioskeletal conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Head circumference is a key indicator of healthy child development.
- Abnormal head sizes, both small and large, can occur at birth or develop postnatally.
- Head circumference abnormalities are influenced by brain size, fluid volumes, and skull structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define macrocephaly and its association with cranioskeletal dysplasias.
- To highlight the factors determining head circumference in children.
Main Methods:
- Review of pediatric head circumference data.
- Clinical assessment of head size against age and gender norms.
- Correlation analysis with brain size, fluid dynamics, and skull morphology.
Main Results:
- Macrocephaly is defined as head size exceeding the mean by over two standard deviations for age and gender.
- Abnormal head circumferences can result from variations in brain size, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume, blood volume, subdural fluid, and skull bone thickness.
- Macrocephaly is frequently observed in conjunction with various cranioskeletal dysplastic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Macrocephaly in children warrants further investigation into underlying causes.
- Understanding the determinants of head circumference is crucial for diagnosing developmental abnormalities.
- Cranioskeletal dysplasias are significant associated conditions with macrocephaly.