Question

The following are the characteristics of caput succedaneum, EXCEPT

• A. It is present at birth
• B. It does not cause jaundice in the newborn
• C. It is limited to an individual bone
• D. It disappears within a few hours of birth

Hint:

Ask whether the swelling can cross a suture line or not.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This question separates the features of caput succedaneum from those of cephalhematoma, its look alike on a newborn's scalp.

1. Present at birth: Caput forms from pressure during labor and delivery, so it is already there when the baby is born. This is a true feature.
2. Does not cause jaundice: Since caput is fluid in the soft tissue rather than trapped blood, there is no extra breakdown of blood cells to raise bilirubin, so it does not cause jaundice. This is a true feature.
3. Limited to an individual bone: This actually describes cephalhematoma, where bleeding sits under the periosteum and cannot cross a suture line. Caput sits above the periosteum and freely crosses sutures, so it is not limited to one bone. This statement is false for caput succedaneum.
4. Disappears within a few hours of birth: Caput resolves quickly, usually within hours to a couple of days, much faster than cephalhematoma. This is a true feature.

Three of the four statements correctly describe caput succedaneum. Only the claim about being limited to one bone is wrong, since that boundary behavior belongs to cephalhematoma instead.

Let's summarize:

• Caput succedaneum lies above the periosteum and can cross suture lines.
• Cephalhematoma lies below the periosteum and stays within one bone.

So the exception here, the feature that does not fit caput succedaneum, is being limited to an individual bone.