Imaging of nasopharyngeal atresia.
CT and MR revealed a case of nasopharyngeal atresia, a malformation in which the soft palate is not formed, and the hard palate extends posteriorly to fuse with the anterior surface of the clivus, resulting in complete isolation of the nasal and oral cavities and the absence of a nasopharynx. We believe this rare anomaly results from abnormal persistence of the embryologic bucconasal plate and/or anomalous migration of the nasoseptal elements.
Smith
J K
JK
Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7510, USA.
Castillo
M
M
Mukherji
S
S
Buenting
J
J
Drake
A
A
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed