title: Bony defect of palate and vomer in submucous cleft palate patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to visualize bony defects of the palate and vomer in submucous cleft palate patients (SMCP) by three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) reconstruction and to classify the range of bony defects. Forty-eight consecutive non-operated SMCP patients were included. Diagnosis was based on the presence of at least one of three classical signs of SMCP: bifid uvula, a translucent zone in the midline of the soft palate, and a palpable 'V' notch on the posterior border of the bony palate. Patients were imaged using spiral CT. 3D reconstruction models were created of the palate and vomer. The sagittal extent of the bony cleft in SMCP was classified into four types: type I, no V-shaped hard palate cleft (8.3%); type II, cleft involving the partial palate (43.8%); type III, cleft involving the complete palate and extending to the incisive foramen (43.8%); type IV, cleft involving the complete palate and the alveolar bone (4.2%). The extent of the vomer defect was classified into three types: type A, vomer completely fused with the palate (8.3%); type B, vomer partially fused with the palate (43.8%); type C, vomer not fused with the palate up to the incisive foramen (47.9%). Significant variability in hard palate defects in SMCP is the rule rather than the exception. The association of velopharyngeal insufficiency with anatomical malformations may be complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Implantology, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China. Electronic address: lamaiana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055172:Vomer / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: CT reconstruction; palatal bony defect; submucous cleft palate; vomer