title: Association of nasomaxillary asymmetry in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate and their parents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Eastman Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14620, USA.
authors.forename: Young-Jooh
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Marja R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Perkiomaki
authors.forename: Ross H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tallents
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barillas
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera-Guido
authors.forename: Chin-To
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Stephanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyrkanides
mesh_terms: 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