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Cranial auscultation in two children with intracranial vascular malformation
1Institute for Child Development, Beit Habriut Strauss, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Insights
Most skull bruits in children are harmless, but they can signal treatable intracranial vascular issues. Routine cranial auscultation during pediatric exams is recommended to detect these conditions early.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Vascular Imaging
- Diagnostic Auscultation
Background:
- Cranial bruits in children are often considered benign.
- Intracranial vascular pathologies can manifest as cranial bruits.
- Cranial auscultation is not a standard part of routine pediatric physical examinations.
Observation:
- Two pediatric cases are presented where a cranial murmur was the initial indicator of underlying intracranial vascular malformations.
- These cases highlight the potential diagnostic value of cranial auscultation in children.
Findings:
- A cranial murmur can be an early, non-invasive sign of significant intracranial vascular pathology in children.
- The presence of a bruit warrants further investigation to rule out serious vascular conditions.
Implications:
- Routine cranial auscultation should be incorporated into pediatric physical examinations.
- Early detection of intracranial vascular pathologies through auscultation can lead to timely and effective treatment.
- This practice may improve patient outcomes by identifying treatable conditions sooner.
Abstract:
Although most bruits heard over the skull in children are innocent, they might represent the sign of a treatable intracranial vascular pathology. Nevertheless, cranial auscultation is not routinely carried out during physical examination at a young age. Two children with vascular malformations are described in whom a cranial murmur was an early sign of intracranial vascular pathology. Routine cranial auscultation during physical examination of children is recommended.