Which statement differentiates caput succedaneum from cephalhematoma?

• A. Caput crosses suture lines; cephal hematoma does not cross sutures
• B. Caput does not cross sutures; cephal hematoma crosses sutures
• C. Both cross suture lines
• D. Neither crosses sutures

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how the swelling sits relative to the skull sutures. Caput succedaneum is diffuse swelling of the scalp soft tissues that lies over the skull and can extend across the suture lines, because it’s edema of the superficial scalp. Cephalhematoma is a subperiosteal bleed between the skull bone and its periosteum, and the periosteum is anchored at the sutures, so this collection stays confined to one bone and does not cross sutures. That’s why caput crosses sutures while cephalhematoma does not. Clinically, caput appears at birth and resolves within days; cephalhematoma may appear within a day or two and can take weeks to months to resolve.