The authors analyzed minor malformation score in 63 children (36 boys and 27 girls) with congenital cleft of the lip and palate in order to evaluate purposefulness of its application as a screening method in detecting various major malformations. The results obtained revealed extremely increased minor malformation score in our patients and confirmed that an increased minor malformation score is associated with major malformation, i.e. clefts of the lip and palate. Therefore, it could be used as a screening method for detection of major malformations.