Thin Skull, Generalized



Thin Skull, Generalized


Miral D. Jhaveri, MD



DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS


Common



  • Normal Infant Skull


  • Obstructive Hydrocephalus


  • Aqueductal Stenosis


Less Common



  • Lacunar Skull


  • Hyperparathyroidism


  • Hypophosphatasia


Rare but Important



  • Rickets


  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta


  • Cleidocranial Dysplasia


  • Primordial Dwarfism


ESSENTIAL INFORMATION


Key Differential Diagnosis Issues



  • Gradual calvarial thinning: Chronic ↑ ICP (e.g., aqueductal stenosis)


  • Demineralization: Hyperparathyroidism


  • Poor ossification



    • Hypophosphatasia, rickets


    • Osteogenesis imperfecta


Helpful Clues for Common Diagnoses



  • Normal Infant Skull



    • Newborn: Vault thin, comprised of membranous bone


    • Parietal bones thin, often barely visible


    • Frontal, occipital bones more ossified


    • Severe underossification common in premature infants


  • Obstructive Hydrocephalus



    • Etiology can be intra- or extraventricular


    • Unless shunted → skull gradually thinned


  • Aqueductal Stenosis



    • Lateral, 3rd ventricles ↑, 4th normal


Helpful Clues for Less Common Diagnoses

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Aug 7, 2016 | Posted by in NEUROLOGY | Comments Off on Thin Skull, Generalized

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