A soft swelling of the scalp that extends across the suture lines in a newborn is called what?

• A. Cephalohematoma
• B. Caput succedaneum
• C. Milia
• D. Fontanelle bulging

Answer: (B)

This question is about distinguishing neonatal scalp swellings and how they relate to suture lines. Caput succedaneum is diffuse edema of the scalp that forms soft swelling at birth and can extend across the suture lines because it involves the subcutaneous tissues of the scalp. It results from the pressure of the presenting part during vaginal delivery, and it typically appears at birth and resolves within a few days without treatment.

Cephalohematoma is a collection of blood between the skull bone and its periosteum. It is bounded by the sutures and does not cross them, so it stays localized to one cranial bone and can take weeks to resolve.

Milia are tiny white keratin-filled cysts on the skin, usually on the face, not a scalp swelling that crosses sutures.

Fontanelle bulging indicates increased intracranial pressure or other issues and refers to a tense fontanelle rather than diffuse scalp edema crossing sutures.

So the swelling described—soft and crossing suture lines at birth—is caput succedaneum.