title: Early prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts: evaluation of the retronasal triangle using a new three-dimensional reslicing technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of three-dimensional ultrasound in the prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts is increasing in recent time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained three-dimensional data sets of the fetal face from 100 low-risk and 50 high-risk first-trimester fetuses to evaluate the offline reformatting accuracy of the retronasal triangle (RNT) using a novel reslicing technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate volume data sets for offline analysis were captured in 98% of cases. The RNT view was reformatted in 96% of cases by offline analysis. The secondary palate could be assessed in 93% by offline analysis and an abnormal RNT in the coronal plane was detected in 2 cases of lethal aneuploidy. The false-positive rate was 1.33% in the two studied groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal RNT seems to be a valuable ultrasound marker for the early diagnosis of facial clefting. This novel reslicing technique has proven to be easy, fast and accurate, which suggest that this technology could be included in daily practice and integrated with other applications such as multiplanar mode and volume NT. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these promising results and to demonstrate if these diagnostic armamentarium tools will lead to a diagnostic enhancement of cleft lip and palate in early pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Prenatal Diagnostic Unit, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guastalla Civil Hospital, AUSL Reggio Emilia, Italy. Tonni.Gabriele@ausl.re.it
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonni
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grisolia
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sepulveda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult