title: A cephalometric assessment of children with fetal alcohol syndrome.
abstract: Lateral cephalometric radiographs were quantitatively assessed in a series of 15 American black children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Although none was profoundly affected, FAS had been diagnosed in all the children at birth. Comparisons with age-, sex-, and race-matched controls disclosed a triad of facial profile differences: (1) frontal bossing, (2) palatal plane tipped up in the front with proclined upper incisors and a sharp nasolabial angle acquired from digit habits, and (3) above-average length of the mandibular corpus. Collectively these generate the perception of midface hypoplasia, although the midface actually is unremarkable in size and position. A high prevalence of chronic digit habits (8 of 15) is a secondary consideration in FAS, leading to localized skeletodental problems.
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gir
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aksharanugraha
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D011247:Pregnancy; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*