Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of intrauterine caput succedaneum: Case report

Abstract

Caput succedaneum typically forms during vaginal delivery. However, caput succedaneum in the fetal period is extremely rare. Here, we report two clinical cases in which intrauterine caput succedaneum was detected by prenatal ultrasound. Case 1: a 38-week pregnant woman was incidentally found to have fetal caput succedaneum during a routine obstetric ultrasound examination. Case 2: a 33⁺² week pregnant woman with preterm premature rupture of membranes was hospitalized for pregnancy maintenance. Fetal caput succedaneum was identified during a follow-up amniotic fluid volume assessment 1 week later. Following thorough antenatal counseling, all parents opted for cesarean delivery. At birth, physical examination revealed subtle, well-circumscribed scalp swellings with overlying hair; no bony defect was palpable. Consistent with the sonographic impression of benign scalp edema, the swellings resolved completely within the first week of life, and all neonates demonstrated normal growth and development at follow-up.