[Ultrasound scan of a fetus with facial cleft must be done from the lip to the uvula]

Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2021 Oct;49(10):767-781. doi: 10.1016/j.gofs.2021.03.007. Epub 2021 Mar 22.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Facial cleft are the most frequent craniofacial anomalies with an incidence of one for 1000 births, all births combined, and require specialized multidisciplinary care. Since 2005, the systematic realization of two ultrasound views (nose-lip and profile) is recommended for the exploration of the fetal face in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Application of these recommendations should allow screening of the majority of cleft lip and palate. However, cleft palates, without labiomaxillary involvement, are currently largely underdiagnosed at prenatal ultrasound, although they can be associated with a syndromic diagnosis in up to 30% of cases. The aim of this work is to describe, from embryology to surgical consultation, the complete ultrasound examination of a fetus with a classic facial cleft.

Keywords: Examen; Facial cleft; Fente palatine; Fetal; Fœtus; Scan; Ultrasound; Échographie.

MeSH terms

  • Cleft Lip* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cleft Palate* / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Fetus / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Uvula / diagnostic imaging