Head Circumference
photo by Janelle Aby, MD
One of the first things to assess when evaluating the head of the newborn is the Occipital Frontal Circumference (OFC). This simple measurement may be the first clue to an underlying problem. The 50th percentile for OFC of a term newborn is 34 cm, so for the infant above who had a normal weight and length for a term infant (near 50th %ile for age), a measurement of 30.5 cm is strikingly abnormal (<< 10th %ile for age). Further evaluation is indicated here; head imaging, screening for TORCH infection, and assessment for chromosomal abnormalities should all be considered.
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