Effects of unilateral clefts on brain structure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate potential abnormalities in brain structure of children and adolescents with unilateral clefts.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Tertiary care center.


METHODS
Boys aged 7 to 17 years with right (n=14) and left (n=19) clefts were compared with healthy age-matched boys (n=57).


METHODS
Structural brain measures were obtained using magnetic resonance imaging.


METHODS
It was explored whether laterality of clefts had a significant effect on brain structure. To this end, volumes of tissue types and various brain regions were evaluated.


RESULTS
Total white matter was significantly lower in boys with right clefts compared with boys with left clefts and healthy boys. Gross regional analyses demonstrated that reductions in white matter were evident in both the cerebellum and the cerebrum in boys with right clefts. Furthermore, within the cerebrum, white matter volumes were particularly low in the frontal lobes and the occipital lobes.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that right clefts may be associated with more abnormalities in brain structure. More generally, laterality of a birth defect may have a significant effect on a developing organism.
van der Plas
Ellen
E
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Dr, W278 GH, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. ellen-vanderplas@uiowa.edu
Conrad
Amy
A
Canady
John
J
Richman
Lynn
L
Nopoulos
Peg
P
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male