Craniotabes


Craniotabes is softening or thinning of the skull in infants and children, which may be normally present in newborns. It is seen mostly in the occipital and parietal bones. The bones are soft, and when pressure is applied they will collapse underneath it. When the pressure is relieved, the bones will usually snap back into place.

Causes

Any condition that affects bone growth, most notably rickets, marasmus, syphilis, or thalassemia, can cause craniotabes if present during a time of rapid skull growth. It can be a "normal" feature in premature infants. It is the first sign in children and infants with rickets.

Diagnosis

Physical examination

Management

Management of craniotabes depends on the cause. The majority of craniotabes occurs in term infants and can be a normal finding.
Commonly, craniotabes results from the position of the head inside the uterus weeks prior to delivery. Calcium and Vitamin D levels should be obtained to rule out rickets, and in mothers who have prenatal labs concerning for T. pallidum infection, neonates should be evaluated for congenital syphilis.

Etymology

The term is derived from the Latin words cranium for skull and tabes for wasting.