Prenatal diagnostics of cleft deformities and its significance for parent and infant care.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to demonstrate clefts of the secondary palate in embryos found to have cleft lip in order to evaluate the validity of prenatal ultrasound examination and, thus, to assess the significance of this diagnostic method for coordination and care of parents and infant.


METHODS
Over a period of 2.5 years, 7 fetuses with cleft deformities were examined sonographically during the 20th and 25th gestational week. The results were compared to postnatal clinical diagnosis. This study was made by two experienced examiners using 2D ultrasound devices (Acuson 128 XP-10/ C7; Toshiba Aplio XV). Postnatal clinical diagnosis was made by an orthodontist.


RESULTS
Three of the ultrasound-based diagnoses coincided with the postnatal result. In three of the examined cases the extent of the cleft was underestimated, whereas a greater extent suspected in one patient could not be confirmed clinically.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study support the propositions of current literature: Diagnosis of a cleft of the lip and the alveolar process could correctly be made by an experienced ultrasound diagnostician. However, problems arise with clefts of the secondary palate.
Heinrich
Annegret
A
Department of Orthodontics, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany. annehein@uni-greifswald.de
Proff
Peter
P
Michel
Thomas
T
Ruhland
Frank
F
Kirbschus
Antje
A
Gedrange
Tomas
T
D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016487:Parenting; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*