Which head swelling crosses suture lines: caput succedaneum or cephalohematoma?

Which head swelling crosses suture lines: caput succedaneum or cephalohematoma?

• A. Caput crosses suture lines while cephalohematoma does not cross
• B. Cephalohematoma crosses suture lines
• C. Moulding crosses sutures
• D. Mongolian spot is a skin pigment

Answer: (A)

Caput succedaneum crosses suture lines because it is diffuse swelling in the scalp’s soft tissues just above the skull. Being superficial, it isn’t restricted by the boundaries of the skull bones, so the edema can extend across sutures. Cephalohematoma, on the other hand, is a collection of blood beneath the periosteum beneath a specific skull bone; the periosteum is firmly attached at the sutures, so the bleed stays confined to one bone and does not cross sutures. Moulding and Mongolian spots aren’t about scalp swelling crossing sutures—moulding refers to temporary skull bone overlapping during birth, and Mongolian spots are benign skin pigment. Caput succedaneum typically resolves within a day or two, whereas cephalohematoma can persist longer and may require monitoring for jaundice or other issues.

Caput succedaneum crosses suture lines because it is diffuse swelling in the scalp’s soft tissues just above the skull. Being superficial, it isn’t restricted by the boundaries of the skull bones, so the edema can extend across sutures. Cephalohematoma, on the other hand, is a collection of blood beneath the periosteum beneath a specific skull bone; the periosteum is firmly attached at the sutures, so the bleed stays confined to one bone and does not cross sutures. Moulding and Mongolian spots aren’t about scalp swelling crossing sutures—moulding refers to temporary skull bone overlapping during birth, and Mongolian spots are benign skin pigment. Caput succedaneum typically resolves within a day or two, whereas cephalohematoma can persist longer and may require monitoring for jaundice or other issues.