Microcephaly (Chapter 178)
Oscar H. Purugganan, MD, MPH, 2016. "Microcephaly (Chapter 178)", American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care, Thomas K. McInerny, MD, FAAP, Henry M. Adam, MD, FAAP, Deborah E. Campbell, MD, FAAP, Thomas G. DeWitt, MD, FAAP, Jane Meschan Foy, MD, FAAP, Deepak M. Kamat, MD, PhD, FAAP, Rebecca Baum, MD, FAAP, Kelly J. Kelleher, MD, MPH, FAAP
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Microcephaly refers to a head size that is 2 standard deviations below the mean (about the third percentile) based on age and gender. In itself, microcephaly means a small head; micrencephaly is the accurate term for a small brain. Because the forces of brain growth generally determine ultimate cranium size, a small brain leads to a small head. Without further brain growth, secondary closure of the sutures of the skull will ensue before the expected time, which should be differentiated from craniosynostosis in which primary and premature closure of sutures occurs with a normally growing brain.1
Measuring the head...