Acute soft head syndrome in a sickle cell disease patient

Catherina Zadeh; Vanessa Rameh; Lamya Ann Atweh

doi:10.3941/jrcr.v15i4.4026

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Acute soft head syndrome in a sickle cell disease patient

Journal article

Open access

Acute soft head syndrome in a sickle cell disease patient

Catherina Zadeh, Vanessa Rameh and Lamya Ann Atweh

Journal of radiology case reports, Vol.15(4), pp.1-6

04/01/2021

DOI: 10.3941/jrcr.v15i4.4026

PMCID: PMC8253147

PMID: 34276870

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Abstract

Acute soft head syndrome is an extremely rare complication in children with sickle cell anemia. We present a 16-year old male patient known to have sickle cell anemia who presented to our emergency department with low grade fever, headache, skull pain and swelling. Magnetic Resonance of the brain was done demonstrating subgaleal collections overlying calvarial signal abnormalities. The combination of clinical and radiological findings were indicative of acute soft head syndrome. Acute soft head syndrome is a rare complication in children with sickle cell anemia and the pathophysiology is related to osteonecrosis and bone infarcts of the calvarium as well as secondary reactive sub-galeal collections. Treatment includes conservative management with intravenous fluids and analgesics, in addition, our patient was treated with antibiotics since differentiation clinically and by imaging can be challenging. Acute soft head syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of headache and skull swelling in children with sickle cell anemia.

Acute Disease

Adolescent

Anemia, Sickle Cell - complications

Brain Diseases - diagnosis

Brain Diseases - diagnostic imaging

Diagnosis, Differential

Headache - etiology

Humans

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Male

Skull - pathology

Syndrome

Details

Title: Subtitle: Acute soft head syndrome in a sickle cell disease patient
Creators: Catherina Zadeh - American University of Beirut
Vanessa Rameh - American University of Beirut
Lamya Ann Atweh - American University of Beirut
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of radiology case reports, Vol.15(4), pp.1-6
DOI: 10.3941/jrcr.v15i4.4026
PMID: 34276870
PMCID: PMC8253147
NLM abbreviation: J Radiol Case Rep
ISSN: 1943-0922
eISSN: 1943-0922
Language: English
Date published: 04/01/2021
Academic Unit: Radiology
Record Identifier: 9984697636402771

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