A rare cause of scalp swelling in infancy: delayed subaponeurotic fluid collections in five cases

Abstract

Subaponeurotic (subgaleal) fluid collection (DSFC) is a rare clinical entity of unknown etiology. We aimed to present our series of infants who were diagnosed with DSCF at Ankara University Children's Hospital. We retrospectively reviewed clinical findings, imaging studies, laboratory tests, management, and clinical courses of infants diagnosed with DSCF between June 2014 and June 2018. Five infants (4 males, 1 female), aged 5–14 weeks, were identified during the study period. All deliveries were non-progressive (3 normal deliveries, 2 cesarean sections) while instrumentation (vacuum extraction or forceps) was used in 2. History of recent trauma, concern for child abuse, and family or personal history of coagulopathy were negative for all patients. Conservative management with the spontaneous resolution was observed in 2 to 12 weeks in all infants. Although rare, DSFC should always be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of scalp swelling in young infants. The diagnosis is primarily clinical, and current treatment is conservative.

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