Prenatal imaging of facial clefts by magnetic resonance imaging with emphasis on the posterior palate

• Published in: Prenatal diagnosis Vol. 23; no. 12; pp. 970 - 975
• Main Authors: Ghi, Tullio, Tani, Giovanni, Savelli, Luca, Colleoni, Giulia Gandolfi, Pilu, Gianluigi, Bovicelli, Luciano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 15-12-2003; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; cleft lip; Cleft Palate - embryology; Cleft Palate - epidemiology; Cleft Palate - etiology; Cleft Palate - pathology; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; fetus; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hormonal contraception; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical sciences; MRI; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Retrospective Studies; ultrasound; Italy; Sonography; Cleft lip; Stomatology; MRI; Congenital cleft; Congenital disease; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Pregnancy; Prenatal; Prenatal diagnosis; Malformation; Posterior; Fetus; Medical imagery; Oral cavity disease; Palate; Face; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0197-3851; 1097-0223
• DOI: 10.1002/pd.737

Objective
To evaluate the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the prenatal diagnosis of facial clefts.
Materials and Methods
Six fetuses with a sonographic diagnosis of cleft lip and palate underwent MRI at a median age of 30 weeks (range 28–32). The defect was bilateral in two cases.
Results
Fetal MRI confirmed the presence of a cleft involving at least the anterior palate in all cases. Distinction between unilateral and bilateral clefts could be made in all cases and was always confirmed after birth. Sagittal views of the fetal face were found to be particularly useful in identifying the degree of extension of the cleft into the palate. The diagnosis was confirmed after birth.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that MRI may be ancillary to ultrasound in prenatal investigation of a fetus with cleft lip, allowing a better staging of the lesion by demonstrating the degree of involvement of the palate. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.