Which statement about cephalohaematoma is NOT true?

Cephalohaematoma refers to a collection of blood that occurs between the skull and the periosteum, typically as a result of birth trauma. This type of hemorrhage is characterized by a few specific features. One key point is that a cephalohaematoma does not cross suture lines due to the firm attachment of the periosteum to the skull bones at these lines.

The statement about it being soft and pitting with pressure is not accurate. Cephalohaematoma presents as a firm, raised area on the head, and it does not pit or become softer when pressure is applied. The characteristic firmness is due to the blood collection being encapsulated beneath the periosteum.

Additionally, cephalohaematomas typically manifest a couple of days after birth — around days 2 to 3 — and have the potential to calcify over time as the body resolves the hematoma. This process can vary in duration.

Understanding these characteristics is vital for differentiating cephalohaematoma from other types of head swelling associated with childbirth, such as caput succedaneum, which is softer and does cross suture lines.