What characterizes caput succedaneum?

Caput succedaneum is characterized primarily by an edematous swelling of the scalp that occurs beneath the periosteum. This condition often develops as a result of pressure during delivery, which causes fluid accumulation in the soft tissues of the scalp.

The swelling associated with caput succedaneum typically appears as a soft, movable lump on the newborn's head and is usually more diffuse in nature, allowing it to spread across the scalp. This type of edema does indeed cross the suture lines of the skull, a distinguishing feature that helps differentiate it from other conditions, such as cephalohematoma, where bleeding occurs beneath the periosteum and does not cross sutures.

Understanding that caput succedaneum is solely an edema, not localized bleeding or a collection of fluid in a confined space, is crucial. The definition also emphasizes that the swelling involves the area above the bone rather than beneath it, aligning it with the characteristics of edema rather than hematoma.