title: Nasal fossa malformations and paramedian facial cleft: new perspectives.
abstract: Choanal atresia may be associated with other cranio-facial malformations, including various degrees of nasal fossa malformation, and may be a part of paramedian facial clefts (as described by Tessier et al. [1977]). We identified five such cases with combined clinical elements corresponding to Tessier's paramedian facial cleft, including eyelid coloboma, mild to severe choanal and nasal fossa anomalies, ethmoidal hypoplasia and anterior skull base malformation, sometimes with proboscis lateralis and half-nose hypoplasia. These observations incited us, first, to elaborate a conception which accounts for the likely embryological mechanisms involved; second, to propose a new classification based on anatomical and pathogenic embryological considerations; and last, to propose the use of transpalatal approach to restore choanal permeability, since endonasal laser therapy is particularly dangerous in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric ENT and Cervicofacial Surgery, Armand Trousseau Children's Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Garabedian
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ducroz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denoyelle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catala
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002754:Choanal Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed