Association of nasomaxillary asymmetry in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate and their parents.
OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested previously that increased width of midfacial structures is associated with the development of palatal clefting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of transverse craniofacial asymmetry between children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and their parents. Specifically, we hypothesized that parental transverse craniofacial asymmetry is a risk factor associated with the development of asymmetry in children with UCLP.


METHODS
Retrospective cross-sectional investigation including affected children and their noncleft parents.


METHODS
A total of 64 children-parent sets of data (32 child-biological mother + 32 child-biological father) were included. Subject records included posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs obtained from 29 Costa Rican families with UCLP.


METHODS
The side of parental nasal asymmetry was significantly associated with the side of cleft in their children. For the majority of parents with children suffering from a left cleft, nasal width was larger on the left, compared with the right side. Similarly, in the majority of parents with children suffering from a right cleft, nasal width was larger on the right, compared with the left side.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that unilaterally increased nasomaxillary width in parents may play a key role in the development of ipsilateral palatal clefting in their offspring, therefore underscoring the importance of craniofacial form as a genetic etiologic factor in the genesis of clefting. Better understanding of the role of craniofacial form in cleft development will ultimately allow for the assessment of risk for cleft lip and palate.
Yoon
Young-Jooh
YJ
Eastman Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14620, USA.
Perkiomaki
Marja R
MR
Tallents
Ross H
RH
Barillas
Ingrid
I
Herrera-Guido
Roberto
R
Fong
Chin-To
CT
Kyrkanides
Stephanos
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010290:Parents; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors