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Increased head circumference
Macrocephaly
Increased head circumference is when the measured distance around the widest part of the skull is larger than expected for the child's age and background.
Head circumference
Head circumference is a measurement of a child's head around its largest area. It measures the distance from above the eyebrows and ears and around ...
Considerations
A newborn's head is usually about 2 cm (centimeters) larger than the chest size. Between 6 months and 2 years, both measurements are about equal. After 2 years, the chest size becomes larger than the head.
Measurements over time that show an increased rate of head growth often provide more valuable information than a single measurement that is larger than expected.
Increased pressure inside the head ( increased intracranial pressure ) often occurs with increased head circumference. Symptoms of this condition include:
Increased intracranial pressure
Increased intracranial pressure is a rise in the pressure inside the skull that can result from or cause brain injury.
- Eyes moving downward
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Irritability
Irritability
Young children who cannot talk yet will let you know when something is wrong by acting fussy or irritable. If your child is fussier than usual, it c...
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Vomiting
Vomiting
Nausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up is forcing the contents of the stomach ...
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Causes
Increased head size may be from any of the following:
- Benign familial macrocephaly (family tendency toward large head size)
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Canavan disease
Canavan disease
Canavan disease is a condition that affects how the body breaks down and uses aspartic acid.
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Hurler syndrome
Hurler syndrome
Hurler syndrome is a rare disease of metabolism in which a person cannot break down long chains of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans (formerl...
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Hydrocephalus
(congenital, post-traumatic, or obstructive)
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain. "
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Morquio syndrome
Morquio syndrome
Morquio syndrome is a disease of metabolism in which the body is missing or does not have enough of a substance needed to break down long chains of s...
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
The health care provider usually finds an increased head size in a baby during a routine well-baby exam.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
A careful physical exam will be done. Other milestones for growth and development will be checked.
Milestones for growth and development
Developmental milestones are behaviors or physical skills seen in infants and children as they grow and develop. Rolling over, crawling, walking, an...
In some cases, a single measurement is enough to confirm that there is a size increase that needs to be tested further. More often, repeated measurements of the head circumference over time are needed to confirm that the head circumference is increased and the problem is getting worse.
Diagnostic tests that may be ordered include:
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Head CT scan
Head CT scan
A head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.
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MRI of the head
MRI of the head
A head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...
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References
Robinson S, Cohen AR. Disorders in head shape and size. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 64.
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Skull of a newborn - illustration
The "sutures" or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant. The diamond shaped space on the top of the skull and the smaller space further to the back are often referred to as the "soft spot" in young infants.
Skull of a newborn
illustration
-
Skull of a newborn - illustration
The "sutures" or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant. The diamond shaped space on the top of the skull and the smaller space further to the back are often referred to as the "soft spot" in young infants.
Skull of a newborn
illustration
Review Date: 4/21/2015
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
