Caput Succedaneum

  • Etiology: Birth trauma resulting in fluid in subgaleal space
  • Imaging:
    — Superficial scalp fluid collection lying between epicranial aponeurosis and skin that does cross suture lines
    — Does not contain blood
    — Rarely see fractures
  • DDX:
    — Cephalohematoma is deepest scalp hematoma lying between skull and pericranium, does not cross suture lines
    — Subgaleal hematoma is middle scalp hematoma lying between pericranium and epicranial aponeurosis, does cross suture lines
    — Caput succadaneum is most superficial scalp fluid collection lying between epicranial aponeurosis and skin, does cross suture lines
  • Complications:
  • Treatment: Self resorbs
  • Clinical: Lasts for weeks

Radiology Cases of Caput Succedaneum

CT of caput succedaneum
Axial (above), coronal (below left) and sagittal (below right) CT without contrast of the brain show a large low density fluid collection in the subcutaneous tissues of the scalp that crosses sutures and is seen to surround the skull on the coronal view. Intracranially, there is diffuse loss of gray matter-white matter differentiation secondary to diffuse cerebral edema.
CT of caput succedaneum
Axial CT without contrast of the brain shows a cresenteric high-density fluid collection in the subcutaneous tissues of the right scalp that crosses suture lines and a cresenteric low-density fluid collection in the subcutaneous tissues of the left scalp that crosses suture lines. Intracranially, there is diffuse loss of gray matter-white matter differentiation secondary to diffuse cerebral edema.