Prenatal imaging of facial clefts by magnetic resonance imaging with emphasis on the posterior palate.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the prenatal diagnosis of facial clefts.


METHODS
Six fetuses with a sonographic diagnosis of cleft lip and palate underwent MRI at a median age of 30 weeks (range 28-32). The defect was bilateral in two cases.


RESULTS
Fetal MRI confirmed the presence of a cleft involving at least the anterior palate in all cases. Distinction between unilateral and bilateral clefts could be made in all cases and was always confirmed after birth. Sagittal views of the fetal face were found to be particularly useful in identifying the degree of extension of the cleft into the palate. The diagnosis was confirmed after birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that MRI may be ancillary to ultrasound in prenatal investigation of a fetus with cleft lip, allowing a better staging of the lesion by demonstrating the degree of involvement of the palate.
Ghi
Tullio
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Policlinico S Orsola-Malpighi University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. tullioghi@yahoo.com
Tani
Giovanni
G
Savelli
Luca
L
Colleoni
Giulia Gandolfi
GG
Pilu
Gianluigi
G
Bovicelli
Luciano
L
D000328:Adult; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies