Imaging Techniques for Patients with Cleft Lip and/or Palate

By Gustavo M. Santaella, DDS, MS, PhD, Bruno C. Azevedo, DDS, MS and William C. Scarfe, BDS, FRACDS, MS
The most common congenital craniofacial anomalies are orofacial clefts, which include cleft lip and/or palate (CLP). These defects develop as a result of a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors, resulting in a failure of the fusion of bony and soft tissue growth elements of the cranial and maxillofacial bones in utero. During this period, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging can assist in prenatal diagnosis, helping to prepare parents of children born with this condition. In addition, other forms of radiographic imaging, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), are key tools for diagnosing and managing these defects. Clinicians also rely on the Tessier classification system, which is a comprehensive method of categorizing orofacial clefts based on craniofacial anatomy. The system describes 14 types of clefts according to their location in relation to eye and orbit. Facial clefts are numbered 0 through 7, and cranial clefts are numbered 8 through 14. Clefts of the lip, alveolus, and palate are numbered 1, 2, and 3.
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