Increased Head Circumference Overview
Learn About Increased Head Circumference
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.
Macrocephaly
A newborn's head is usually about 2 cm (0.78 inch) 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:
- Eyes moving downward
- Irritability
- Vomiting
Increased head size may be from any of the following:
- Benign familial macrocephaly (family tendency toward large head size)
- Canavan disease (condition that affects how the body breaks down and uses a protein called aspartic acid)
- Hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling)
- Bleeding inside the skull
- Disease in which the body is unable to break down long chains of sugar molecules (Hurler or Morquio syndrome)
Your health care provider usually finds an increased head size in a baby during a routine well-baby exam.
A careful physical exam will be done. Other milestones for growth and development will be checked.
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:
- Head CT scan
- MRI of the head
- Cranial ultrasound
Treatment depends on the cause of the increased head size. For example, for hydrocephalus, surgery may be needed to relieve the buildup of fluid inside the skull.
Ghayda Mirzaa is a Medical Genetics specialist and a Pediatrics provider in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Mirzaa and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Head Circumference. Their top areas of expertise are Increased Head Circumference, Cortical Dysplasia, Achalasia Microcephaly Syndrome, and Microcephaly. Dr. Mirzaa is currently accepting new patients.
Fairview Express Care
William Dobyns is a Medical Genetics specialist and a Pediatrics provider in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Dobyns has been practicing medicine for over 47 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Head Circumference. His top areas of expertise are Increased Head Circumference, Lissencephaly, Cerebellar Hypoplasia, and Cortical Dysplasia. Dr. Dobyns is currently accepting new patients.
Laurence Faivre practices in Dijon, France. Faivre and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Head Circumference. His top areas of expertise are Cohen Syndrome, Achalasia Microcephaly Syndrome, Microcephaly, and Hypotonia.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal medical, behavioral, and cognitive differences between PTEN ASD and other groups, as well as to identify cognitive, neural systems, and molecular biomarkers specific to PTEN ASD. In addition, this study will be creating and maintaining a biorepository and linked phenotypic database for PTEN ASD.
Summary: PtenTurkiye.org' is a national ( Turkish), web-based registry for PTEN Hamartoma Tumour ( PHTS) syndrome established in 2022. It is designed to increase awareness, gather scientific knowledge by collaboration and increase data accessibility, collect high-quality data on the epidemiology, genetic background and natural history of PHTS especially for pediatric patients so that more accurate follow u...
Published Date: April 25, 2023
Published By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Bamba V, Kelly A. Assessment of growth. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.
Mitchell AL. Congenital abnormalities. Disorders in head shape and size. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 30.