macrocephaly (redirected from macrocephalic)

macrocephaly /mac·ro·ceph·a·ly/ (-sef´ah-le) megalocephaly; unusually large size of the head.macrocephal´ic

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mac·ro·ceph·a·ly (mkr-sf-l) or mac·ro·ce·pha·li·a (-s-fl-, -fly)

n.

Abnormal largeness of the head. Also called megacephaly, megalocephaly.

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macro·ce·phalic (-s-flk), macro·cepha·lous adj.

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macrocephaly

[mak′rōsef′əlē]

Etymology: Gk, makros + kephale, head

a congenital anomaly characterized by abnormal largeness of the head and brain in relation to the rest of the body, resulting in some degree of mental and growth retardation. The head is more than two standard deviations above the average circumference size for age, sex, race, and period of gestation, with excessively wide fontanels; the facial features are usually normal. The condition may be caused by some defect in formation during embryonic development, or it may be the result of progressive degeneration processes, such as Schilder's disease, Greenfield's disease, or congenital lipoidosis. In macrocephaly there is symmetric overgrowth at the head without increased intracranial pressure, as differentiated from hydrocephalus, in which the lateral, asymmetric growth of the head is caused by excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, usually under increased pressure. Specific diagnostic tests may be necessary to differentiate the two conditions. Treatment is primarily symptomatic, with nursing care concentrated specifically on helping parents learn to care for a brain-damaged child. Also called macrocephalia, megalocephaly. Compare microcephaly. See also hydrocephalus. macrocephalic, macrocephalous, adj., macrocephalus, n.

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macrocephaly [mak″ro-sef´ah-le]

megalocephaly. adj., adj macroceph´ous.

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macrocephaly

abnormal enlargement of the cranium.

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macrocephaly

↑ head circumference, megalocephaly Pediatrics An abnormally big head/brain; in children, macrocephaly is defined as an occipitofrontal circumference of > 3 SD ≥ the mean; in adults, macrocephaly is any brain weighing > 1800 g, due to expansion of any subdural component–eg, cerebral tissue, liquid, blood, tumor or storage disease DiffDx–non-hydrocephalic causes Benign familial form–sibs also have large heads, achondroplasia, Banayan syndrome, cerebral gigantism–with macrosomia or Sotos syndrome, cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita, fragile X syndrome, Klippel-Trenauny-Weber syndrome, mucopolysaccharidosis, neurofibromatosis, Weaver syndrome