Head Abnormalaties

Question 1

What are the causes of microcpehaly?

Answer 1

Familial: Aka normal for the child
Congenital infection: Toxoplasmosis, rubella, varicella, zika
Maternal illness: Poorly controlled PKU
Genetic: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly

Question 2

What are the causes of macrocephaly?

Answer 2

Familial: Aka normal for child
Raised ICP/Hydrocephalus
Chronic subdural haematoma
SOL
Genetic: Neurofibromatosis, Sotos syndrome (Cerebral gigantism), Hurler syndrome

Question 3

What is craniosynostosis?

Answer 3

It is when there is premature fusion of one of the cranial sutures leading to abnormal head shape and potentially growth and restriction of part of the brain.

Question 4

What are the causes of cranisynostosis?

Answer 4

If it is one suture = idiopathic

If it is multiple sutures which have fused early tends to be due to one of a number of genetic syndromes.
-Crouzon’s syndrome (abnormal head shape, exopthalamus, beaked nose, autosomal dominant pattern)