Which finding may accompany macrocephaly?

Which finding may accompany macrocephaly?

• A. Pulsating anterior fontanel
• B. Sunken fontanel
• C. Widened suture lines
• D. Premature closure of suture lines

Answer: (C)

Macrocephaly means the head circumference is larger than expected for age, and in infants the skull can still expand. When there is increased intracranial volume—such as from excess brain growth or hydrocephalus—the skull bones separate as they expand, so the sutures become visibly widened. This widening reflects the skull’s attempt to accommodate more content inside and is a classic accompanying finding of macrocephaly. In contrast, a sunken fontanel points to dehydration, premature closure of sutures (craniosynostosis) leads to a different skull shape and often a smaller head, and a pulsating fontanel alone is less specific to macrocephaly.

Macrocephaly means the head circumference is larger than expected for age, and in infants the skull can still expand. When there is increased intracranial volume—such as from excess brain growth or hydrocephalus—the skull bones separate as they expand, so the sutures become visibly widened. This widening reflects the skull’s attempt to accommodate more content inside and is a classic accompanying finding of macrocephaly. In contrast, a sunken fontanel points to dehydration, premature closure of sutures (craniosynostosis) leads to a different skull shape and often a smaller head, and a pulsating fontanel alone is less specific to macrocephaly.