Asymptomatic macrocephaly: to scan or not to scan

摘要: Macrocephaly is a common finding in infants and often idiopathic or familial. In the absence of clinical signs symptoms, it can be difficult to determine when concern for underlying pathology justified. The objectives this study were utility screening head ultrasound (US) asymptomatic with macrocephaly identify factors associated significant US findings. A 20-year retrospective review was performed undergoing rapidly increasing circumference. Data collected included age, gender, circumference at birth time US, specialty ordering physician, findings, computed tomography (CT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) course including interventions. Four hundred forty met inclusion criteria. Two eighty studies (64%) found normal, 137 (31%) had incidental 17 (3.8%) indeterminate but potentially 6 (1.4%) Twenty 23 findings subsequent CT MRI. This confirmed eight (1.8%): three subdural hematomas, two intracranial tumors, aqueductal stenoses, one middle fossa cyst. Five required surgical procedures. only statistically association having on birth. Ultrasound useful initial evaluate infantile macrocephaly, identifying several treatable causes our and, negative, effectively excluding pathology.