Definition

Noun: * An abnormally large head: A medical condition characterized by a head circumference that is significantly larger than average for a person's age and sex. It is distinguished from hydrocephalus by the absence of increased pressure inside the skull and by symmetrical overgrowth of the head.

Usage

The term "megacephaly" is a specialized medical term used in clinical and diagnostic contexts. It describes a physical finding, not a disease itself, and often requires further investigation to determine the underlying cause.

Examples

• The pediatrician noted possible megacephaly during the infant's routine check-up and ordered a scan.
• Megacephaly can be a benign familial trait or associated with certain genetic syndromes.
• The diagnosis distinguished the condition from hydrocephalus, confirming it was megacephaly without intracranial hypertension.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in differential diagnosis to contrast with other conditions causing a large head, such as hydrocephalus.
• It can be modified by adjectives like "benign," "familial," or "syndromic" to specify the type or cause.

Variants and Related Words

• Megacephalic (adjective): Pertaining to or characterized by megacephaly.
  • The child exhibited megacephalic features.
• Macrocephaly (noun): A more general term for an abnormally large head, which can be used synonymously with megacephaly in many contexts, though "macrocephaly" is sometimes considered the broader category.

Synonyms

• Macrocephaly
• Large-headedness (non-technical description)

Antonyms

• Microcephaly (an abnormally small head)

Noun

1. an abnormally large head; differs from hydrocephalus because there is no increased intracranial pressure and the overgrowth is symmetrical