Medical Encyclopedia

 

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Fontanelles - excessively large

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Skull of a newborn
Skull of a newborn
Fontanelles
Fontanelles
Large fontanelles (lateral view)
Large fontanelles (lateral view)
Large fontanelles
Large fontanelles

Alternative Names    Return to top

Soft spot - large

Definition    Return to top

Excessively large fontanelles are larger-than-expected soft spots for the age of a baby. In an infant, the spaces where bones of the skull come together, but are not completely joined, are called soft spots or fontanelle (fontanel or fonticulus).

Considerations    Return to top

Fontanelles allows for growth of the skull during an infant's first year. Slow or incomplete closure of the skull bones is most often the cause of a wide fontanelle.

For general information, see fontanelles.

Causes    Return to top

Larger-than-normal fontanelles are most commonly caused by:

Rarer causes:

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

If you think that the fontanelles on your baby's head are excessively large, talk to your health care provider. Most of the time, this sign will have been seen during the baby's first medical exam.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the patient's medical history, including:

Note: An excessively large fontanelle is usually discovered by the health care provider, and the parents may not have been aware of its presence.

The health care provider may check the size of the fontanelles and the head over several months. This can help determine problems of the fontanelle and head growth.

Diagnostic tests may include:

Update Date: 11/14/2007

Updated by: Deirdre O’Reilly, M.D., M.P.H., Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

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