Craniotabes

Craniotabes

Craniotabes is the finding of a softening or thinning of the skull, which may be normally present in newborns. It is seen mostly in the occipital and parietal bones. The bone is soft and when pressure is applied they will collapse underneath it. When the pressure is relieved, the bones will usually snap back into place. The term is derived from the Latin words cranium for skull and tabes for wasting. Any condition that affects bone growth, most notably rickets (vitamin D deficiency), marasmus, syphilis, or thalassemia present during a time of rapid skull growth can cause craniotabes. It can be a "normal" feature in premature infants. It is the first symptom in children and infants with rickets.