Caput Succedaneum

Etiology: birth trauma resulting in fluid in subgaleal space
Imaging: fluid collection in subcutaneous tissue that crosses sutures, does not contain blood, rarely see fractures
DDX: subgaleal hematoma
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.