Craniotabes

Alternative names:

congenital cranial osteoporosis

Definition:

A softening of the skull bones.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Craniotabes can be a normal finding in infants, especially premature infants. Studies suggest it occurs in up to one third of all newborn infants. Typically craniotabes is demonstrated by pressing the bone along the suture line (the area where the bones of the skull come together). The bone often pops in and out (similar to pressing on a Ping-Pong ball).

Craniotabes is a harmless finding in the newborn unless it is associated with other problems such as rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones).