Approach to the differential diagnosis of extracranial birth trauma:
- Often due to use of forceps or vacuum assistance during delivery
- Caput succedaneum – fluid in the subgaleal space that crosses sutures, less dense in appearance than subgaleal hematoma on CT, can last for weeks, never calcifies
- Subgaleal hematoma – blood in the subgaleal space that crosses sutures, denser in appearance than caput succedaneum on CT, can last for weeks, never calcifies
- Cephalohematoma – blood in the subperiosteal space that does not cross sutures, can last for years, can calcify
- Skull molding – overlapping of the skull bones, may take up to a month to resolve
Pediatric Imaging 