Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 16, Issue 9 619-625, Copyright © 1997 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Axial ultrasonographic imaging of the fetal maxilla for accurate characterization of facial clefts
C. J. Babcook and J. P. McGahan
Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, USA.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether scanning of the fetal
midface in the axial plane allows accurate characterization of facial
clefts. During fetal anatomic survey, facial clefts were identified in six
fetuses. The midface anatomy was evaluated with ultrasonography in the
coronal and axial planes, and the clefts were characterized prospectively
as unilateral or bilateral and as involving the lip alone or both the lip
and the palate. The integrity of the upper lip was assessed in the coronal
and axial planes. The continuity of the normal C-shaped curve of the
tooth-bearing alveolar ridge and the anterior six tooth sockets was
assessed in the axial plane. The prospective prenatal diagnosis was
correlated with postnatal findings in all cases. The clefts where
characterized prospectively as unilateral cleft lip (one case), unilateral
cleft lip and cleft palate (four cases), and bilateral cleft lip and cleft
palate (one case). The prenatal characterization was confirmed to be
correct postnatally in all cases. Prenatal sonographic evaluation of the
axial view of the tooth-bearing alveolar ridge of the maxilla allows
accurate determination of whether a cleft is confined to the lip or
involves both the lip and the palate.
