Parietal Foramina @ /OR Cranium Bifidum?

[monkeybane]

My name is Sarah and I am 25 years old. I am asking this question about one of my 11 week old twins, Aspen. I myself had surgery at 1 year of age due to a persistent parietal foramina, or so I think. My mom can't remember what it was called, but she tells me that my surgery was from the fact that my soft spot wasn't going to close on it's own. My six year old son has a slight parietal foramina, and now my newborn daughter has a larger than usual soft spot. In fact, her pediatrician says that it's the largest that he's ever seen. Her front soft spot (anterior fontanelle?) is about the size of a silver dollar, the suture that runs to the rear soft spot is about 1/16 of an inch wide. and her rear soft spot (posterior fontanelle?) was oblong and about the length of my index finger, but now has began to suture through the middle, creating the foramina. Each spot is larger than a quarter, almost silver dollar size. When do I need to start worrying about this and taking her to see a pediatric neurosurgeon to have it evaluated? Thanks for answering.  

[Laurie9]

My daughter has been diagnosed with parietal foramina as well.  How did everything work out for your child?

[monkeybane]

It's nice to know that somebody has heard of this. I've had two different peds that I have taken my children to here in Fargo and neither of them have known what I was talking about. Yes, the twins are fraternal - she has a brother, and he doesn't have this problem. I have a 21 month old little boy who has no problem as well. I understand that at this age, it doesn't present too much of a threat to her until she is mobile. I guess I was wondering if they would be able to tell if it is going to close or not. I really don't want her to have to have surgery. The suture on the top of her head, the one going from the  front soft spot connecting to back back, has made no change and is still open. It feels like there is some hardening going on through the middle of her rear soft spot, though, although I couldn't tell you whether that suture is closing or if it is a thick membrane as you mentioned. I guess I really do need to take her to see a pediatric neurosurgeon, but the closest one is a three hour drive away in Rochestor, MN. So now I'm wondering if I should wait to take her or if I should have it checked out asap. I will be talking to her doctor soon. Thank you for your interest.

[Quixotic1]

I don't know a great deal on the topic and recomend that you ask your pediatrician to discuss it with the pediatric neurosurgeon who then can give his/(rarely)her opinion as to whether or when it needs to be evaluated.   Persistent, very large parietal foramina may require surgical closure to prevent injury later.  But this is not an emergency thing.  Generally the pediatrician will watch and report to neurosurg or the neurosurgoen will see the child periodically.  If the sutures are closing then it sounds like your little one will not have cranium bifidum (where the skull remains in two halves separated by a thick membrane instead of bone).  This is the more severe form of the problem.

From what I've read, persistent parietal foramina are indeed genetically passed on in a autosomal dominant way.  If the mom or dad passes on the gene, the child will show the trait to some degree or another.  Like brown eyes. Children with the condition almost always have a parent who had/has it.  (Just curious - are the twins fraternal?)  Generally it is a benign condition and not be a major problem.  You are right to be asking the question you are, but  I suspect there are not any pediatric neurosurgeons reading these boards.

It is your pediatrician's job to contact the neurosurgeon and answer these questions for you.  I was a pediatrician for 23 years and I spent a lot of time on the phone with my specialists getting these questions answered. Be proactive and request the answer.

I'll be interested in hearing what the answer is.  Quix