Definition

1. Noun:
   • A collection of blood under the scalp of a newborn infant. This condition is specifically caused by pressure on the baby's head during a difficult or prolonged vaginal delivery, which can rupture small blood vessels beneath the scalp. The blood accumulates in the space between the skull bone and its fibrous covering (the periosteum).

Usage

• The term is used exclusively in a medical context, particularly in pediatrics, obstetrics, and neonatology.
• It describes a specific, localized type of birth injury.
• It is a clinical finding noted by doctors or midwives after delivery.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The pediatrician examined the baby and noted a small cephalohematoma on the right side of the head.
  • A cephalohematoma is a common and usually harmless condition that resolves on its own over several weeks.
  • Unlike caput succedaneum, a cephalohematoma does not cross the suture lines of the skull.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often discussed in contrast to caput succedaneum, which is a diffuse swelling of the scalp caused by pressure during delivery that crosses suture lines.
• In medical documentation, it may be abbreviated or referenced in notes:

Variants and Related Words

• Cephalhaematoma: An alternative, chiefly British English spelling of the same medical term.
• Subperiosteal hemorrhage: A more general descriptive term for bleeding under the periosteum, which can occur in other bones and in individuals of any age.

Synonyms

• Subgaleal hematoma (Note: This is a related but distinct condition where blood collects in a broader potential space under the scalp aponeurosis; it is often more serious than a cephalohematoma).
• Birth hematoma (a less specific, general term).

Notes on Meaning

• The key distinguishing features of a cephalohematoma are its location (under the periosteum, limited to one cranial bone), its cause (birth trauma), and its presentation in a newborn.
• It is not a bruise or a generalized swelling. It is a well-defined, fluctuant mass that feels firm around the edges.

Noun

1. a collection of blood under the scalp of a newborn; caused by pressure during birth