title: Magnetic resonance imaging for detection of brain abnormalities in fetuses with cleft lip and/or cleft palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of brain abnormalities identified by prenatal imaging of fetuses with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) or cleft palate only (CP) and to compare with postnatal imaging and neurologic evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective review of radiologic images (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and sonography) of fetuses diagnosed with CL/P or CP at the Advanced Fetal Care Center at Children's Hospital Boston between 2002 and 2008. Images were reviewed for possible brain abnormalities by a pediatric radiologist who specializes in this field. Postnatal imaging was also assessed whenever available and correlated with clinical findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large, tertiary-care, academic pediatric hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-six fetuses and 105 corresponding infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brain abnormalities were found in 8 of 126 fetuses (6.3%) by prenatal MRI. The malformations were corpus callosal dysgenesis (n = 3), encephalocele (n = 1), hypoplasia of the cerebellar hemispheres or vermis (n = 3), and white matter neuronal migration anomaly (n = 1). An additional 2 patients were diagnosed with brain abnormalities postnatally that had not been detected on prenatal imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The possibility of brain anomalies should be assessed in a fetus found to have CL/P or CP by sonography and/or MRI. Central nervous system imaging and careful neurodevelopmental follow-up is indicated in these infants.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Grace J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stoler
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mulliken
authors.forename: Tomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tarui
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Meara
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Estroff
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000196:embryology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal