title: Sonographic assessment of fetal secondary palate between 12 and 16 weeks of gestation using three-dimensional ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate fetal secondary palate in fetuses at 12 to 16 weeks' gestation by three-dimensional ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2006 and July 2008, volumes of palate were prospectively acquired in fetuses at gestational age of 12 to 16 weeks. Acquisition was performed when the fetus was facing the transducer with head extended at an angle of 30° to 40° to the ultrasound beam. Secondary palate was assessed off-line.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Secondary palate was assessed in 45 fetuses with normal face anatomy and 4 fetuses with malformations of the face (one with retrognathia, one with retrognathia and micrognathia, one with cleft lip and one with cleft lip and primary palate). The secondary palate was visualized in 19/49 (38.7%) fetuses: in 2/49, only hard palate was demonstrated; in 6/49, only soft palate and in 11/49, both hard and soft palate were fully demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information concerning evenness of secondary palate may be provided by three-dimensional ultrasound in 38.7% of examined fetuses at 12 to 16 weeks of gestation. This examination should be offered in pregnancies at high risk for cleft palate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zajicek
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Achiron
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weisz
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrim
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gindes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005145:Face / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010159:Palate / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*