Temporal Evolution of Imaging Findings in Ossified Cephalohematoma
Sedat Giray Kandemirli1,2, Mehmet Cingoz3, Cem Bilgin1
1Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Bursa, Turkey.
Background:
Cephalohematoma is collection of blood between skull and periosteum that is confined by cranial sutures. Cephalohematomas usually resorb spontaneously within the first month of life; however, if it fails to resolve, ossified cephalohematoma may form.
Methods:
Clinical archiving system and picture archiving and communication system were retrospectively reviewed for cases of birth-related cephalohematoma. Cases of ossified cephalohematomas identified on imaging were retrieved from this subset of patients. Cross-sectional imaging findings in patients with ossified cephalohematomas were evaluated for location, size of the hematoma, and contours of the inner lamella.
Results:
Out of 115 cases of cephalohematoma, 7 cases had imaging findings consistent with ossified cephalohematoma. All ossified cephalohematomas were located parietally, with size ranging between 18 and 55 mm and the thickness of the outer rim of calcification ranging between 1.5 and 4.8 mm. The contour of inner lamella in relation to the surrounding normal cranial vault was normal in 5 cases, and inner lamella was depressed in 2 cases.Three patients had follow-up imaging available for demonstration of changes in ossified cephalohematoma. The first case was an 11 day-old boy with a cephalohematoma with no signs of calcification at the time of initial imaging. Follow-up at 2 months of age showed partial regression of hematoma cavity with marked calcification at the hematoma walls. The second case was a 3 month-old boy with ossified cephalohematoma at initial imaging. Follow-up imaging at 7 months of age showed almost total regression of hematoma cavity, and approximation of inner and outer lamella with increased thickness of the cranial vault. The third case was a 1 month-old boy with ossified cephalohematoma at initial imaging that totally resolved without residual increased bone thickness at 21-month follow-up.
Conclusion:
These 3 cases demonstrate the variability in temporal changes that may occur in ossified cephalohematomas.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...