The nurse performs a transillumination of an infant's head in order to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Transillumination of an infant's head to rule out anencephaly or hydrocephalus can be performed as a temporary alternative to magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography if head circumference is not within normal limits.A flashlight is placed directly against the frontal,parietal,and occipital areas of the skull.A normal finding over the frontal and parietal bones is a circle of light no larger than 2 cm.Over the occipital area,the circle of light is no larger than 1 cm.To assess for swelling or masses,for closure of the anterior and posterior fontanels,and for open,untied,or overlapping suture lines palpation is performed.

The Nurse Performs a Transillumination of an Infant's Head in Order