Prenatal evaluation of facial clefts with two-dimensional and adjunctive three-dimensional ultrasonography: a prospective trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the prenatal diagnostic capabilities of two-dimensional ultrasonography versus adjunctive three-dimensional ultrasonography for fetal cleft lip and palate.


METHODS
Fetuses that were suspected of a facial cleft were then examined sequentially with two-dimensional ultrasonography then with a targeted scan of the fetal face with three-dimensional ultrasonography. The images were coded as cleft, no cleft, or equivocal for lip and palate. Postnatal outcome follow-up was obtained.


RESULTS
Fifty-three of 57 fetuses had outcome results available. The diagnostic accuracy (true positive + true negative) of adjunct three-dimensional ultrasonography versus two-dimensional ultrasonography alone were improved for cleft lip (100% [53/53 fetuses] vs 91% [48/53 fetuses], P <.05) and cleft palate (89% [47/53 fetuses] vs 57% [30/53 fetuses], P <.05)


CONCLUSIONS
There is significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy with two-dimensional ultrasonography with adjunctive three-dimensional ultrasonography compared with two-dimensional ultrasonography alone for the prenatal evaluation of facial clefts.
Chmait
Ramen
R
Division of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Pretorius
Dolores
D
Jones
Marilyn
M
Hull
Andrew
A
James
Gina
G
Nelson
Tom
T
Moore
Thomas
T
D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000592:standards*