Detection of lip, alveolar ridge and hard palate abnormalities using two-dimensional ultrasound enhanced with the three-dimensional reverse-face view

Diagnostic Methods for the Prenatal Detection of Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review

Background: Accurate prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate is essential to discuss severity prediction, perform appropriate parental counseling, and, at last, establish long-term treatment planning. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the accuracy of various imaging techniques for the prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate, assess the pregnancy phase for orofacial clefts diagnosis, and study the different cleft types in terms of diagnostic methods, timing, and predictability. Methods: A search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify potentially relevant studies published until January 2024. The quality of the selected articles was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for methodological quality assessment of cohort studies and the QUADAS-2 scale for diagnostic test studies. Results: A total of 18 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The findings of this review indicate that the majority of studies showed improved diagnostic accuracy when supplementary techniques, such as 3D ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, were added to 2D ultrasound. Conclusions: The implementation of magnetic resonance imaging as a standard procedure could significantly improve the precision of diagnosing cleft lip and palate. Therefore, the diagnostic technique used will play a crucial role in the accuracy of the diagnosis.

Diagnostic Potential of Complementation of MRI to Prenatal Ultrasound for Detecting Orofacial Clefts in High-Risk Fetuses: A Network Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the complementation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to prenatal ultrasound (US) with prenatal US alone in detecting orofacial clefts in high-risk fetuses.

DESIGN

A network meta-analysis.

SETTING

Literature retrieval in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library, and meta-analysis based on STATA 14.0.

PATIENTS

Fetuses were at high-risk for orofacial clefts.

INTERVENTIONS

Prenatal US and the complementation of MRI to prenatal US.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Thirteen studies involving 776 patients were included. Direct meta-analysis showed that the complementation of MRI to prenatal US did not differ from prenatal US in detecting orofacial clefts if the type of orofacial clefts was not distinguished. Subgroup analysis showed that the specificity of prenatal US for the detection of isolated cleft palate (CP) was lower than that of the complementation of MRI to prenatal US. Furthermore, network meta-analysis consistently suggested a comparable diagnostic value between prenatal US and the complementation of MRI to prenatal US. Moreover, subgroup analysis showed that the specificity of prenatal US was significantly lower than that of complementation of MRI to prenatal US for the detection of isolated CP.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI is more accurate than ultrasound in detecting cleft palate. Therefore, MRI should be offered if there is a fetus with a possible or ultrasound diagnosis of cleft palate, especially if the evaluation of cleft palate is deemed unsatisfactory after careful evaluation of the images.

The Hard Palate Sweep: a multiplanar 2-dimensional sonographic method for the prenatal detection of cleft palate

BACKGROUND

Prenatal diagnosis of cleft palate is challenging. Numerous 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional methods have been proposed to assess the integrity of the fetal palate, yet detection rates remain relatively low. We propose the "Hard Palate Sweep," a novel 2-dimensional method that enables clear demonstration of the entire fetal palate throughout pregnancy, in a single sweep, avoiding acoustic shadows cast by surrounding bones.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and performance of the Hard Palate Sweep, performed throughout pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective cross-sectional study performed between 2018 and 2022 in pregnant patients referred for a routine or targeted anomaly scan between 13 and 40 weeks of gestation. The presence or absence of a cleft palate was determined using the "Hard Palate Sweep." This was compared with the postnatal palate integrity assessment. Test feasibility and performance indices, including sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Offline clips were reviewed by 2 investigators for the assessment of inter- and intraoperator agreement, using Cohen's kappa formula. The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee. All participating patients were informed and provided consent.

RESULTS

A total of 676 fetuses were included in the study. The Hard Palate Sweep was successfully performed in all cases, and 19 cases were determined to have a cleft palate. Of these, 13 cases were excluded because postmortem confirmation was not performed, leaving 663 cases available for analysis. Six cases determined to have a cleft palate were confirmed postnatally. In 655 of 657 cases prenatally determined to have an intact palate, this was confirmed postnatally. In the 2 remaining cases, rare forms of cleft palate were diagnosed postnatally, rendering 75% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 99.7% negative predictive value for the Hard Palate Sweep (P<.001). There was complete intra- and interoperator agreement (kappa=1; P<.0001).

CONCLUSION

The Hard Palate Sweep is a feasible and accurate method for prenatally detecting a cleft palate. It was successfully performed in all attempted cases between 13 and 40 weeks of gestation. This method is reproducible, offering high sensitivity and specificity. Implemented routinely, the Hard Palate Sweep is expected to increase the prenatal detection of cleft palate.

Updates in Cleft Care

Cleft lip and/or palate is a congenital malformation with a wide range of presentations, and its effective treatment necessitates sustained, comprehensive care across an affected child's life. Early diagnosis, ideally through prenatal imaging or immediately postbirth, is paramount. Access to longitudinal care and long-term follow-up with a multidisciplinary approach, led by the recommendations of the American Cleft Palate Association, is the best way to ensure optimal outcomes. Multiple specialties including plastic surgery, otolaryngology, speech therapy, orthodontists, psychologists, and audiologists all may be indicated in the care of the child. Primary repair of the lip, nose, and palate are generally conducted during infancy. Postoperative care demands meticulous oversight to detect potential complications. If necessary, revisional surgeries should be performed before the child begin primary school. As the child matures, secondary procedures like alveolar bone grafting and orthognathic surgery may be requisite. The landscape of cleft care has undergone significant transformation since early surgical correction, with treatment plans now tailored to the specific type and severity of the cleft. The purpose of this text is to outline the current standards of care in children born with cleft lip and/or palate and to highlight ongoing advancements in the field.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Prenatal Fetal Ultrasound to Detect Cleft Palate in High-Risk Fetuses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the accuracy of prenatal fetal ultrasound (US) to detect cleft palate during the second and third trimester (12-36 weeks) of pregnancy in high-risk fetuses.

METHODS

Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for studies that performed prenatal fetal US (comparator) and postnatal examination (reference standard) in fetuses at high risk for orofacial clefts. Risk of bias among included studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2. Area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included 7 studies involving 663 high-risk fetuses. The individual studies showed that prenatal fetal US accurately predicted the possibility of cleft palate in these fetuses. Pooled sensitivity was 87% (95% CI 71%-95%), pooled specificity was 98% (95%CI 90%-100%), and the area under the SROC curve was 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99).

CONCLUSION

Second and third trimester fetal US has excellent sensitivity and specificity for the detection of cleft palate in high-risk pregnancies.

[Ultrasound scan of a fetus with facial cleft must be done from the lip to the uvula: What's new?]

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.

Accurate diagnosis of fetal cleft lip/palate by typical signs of magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing orofacial clefts and proposes specific signs for determining the type of cleft.

METHODS

Pregnant women in whom fetal facial malformations are suspected by ultrasonography (US) underwent 1.5 T MRI. The accuracy of the prenatal US and MRI diagnosis was compared with the postnatal findings.

RESULTS

A total of 71 fetuses were included in the final analysis, which comprised of 35 cases of isolated cleft lip, six cases of cleft lip and alveolus, 21 cases of cleft lip and palate, four cases of isolated cleft palate, and five normal fetuses. MRI was more sensitive than US (MRI 100%, US 77.5%; Fisher's exact test: MRI vs US P=0.000). The accuracy of MRI for all types was 100%. Specific signs (Inverted T, L/anti-L, U, and "Notch" signs) were proposed, indicating the normal hard, unilateral cleft, bilateral cleft, and cleft soft palates, respectively, which can facilitate the identification of different types of cleft palates.

CONCLUSION

MRI can accurately diagnose the type of cleft based on typical signs, which can serve as a definite diagnostic modality and an effective supplement of US.

The prenatal diagnosis and classification of cleft palate: the role and value of magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of MRI in the prenatal diagnosis and classification of cleft palate (CP).

METHODS

We collected 94 fetal cases that were suspected of cleft palate with or without cleft lip by prenatal ultrasound (US) and then carried out further MRI to examine the entire body of each fetus within 1 week. The diagnoses resulting from MRI and US examination were compared separately with the final diagnoses obtained from postnatal physical examination or fetal autopsy. The diagnostic accuracy between MRI and US was then determined.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, the results for 6 fetuses (6.38%) were lost. Of the remaining 88 cases, the final diagnoses identified 23 cases of cleft lip (CL), 45 cases of unilateral cleft lip with cleft palate (UCLP), 4 cases of median cleft lip with cleft palate (MCLP), 12 cases of bilateral cleft lip with cleft palate (BCLP), 3 cases of unilateral cleft lip and cleft alveolus (CLA), and 1 case of isolated cleft palate (CPO). The total accuracy rate of US was 59.09%, while that of MRI was 92.05%. More importantly, 81 cases were accurately identified by MRI; the accuracy rate for CL, UCLP, MCLP, BCLP, CLA, and CPO was 86.96%, 95.56%, 100%, 91.67%, 66.67%, and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that MRI could be a useful adjunct to US examination in the prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with cleft palate, and further demonstrates the classification and degree of involvement of the cleft palate.

KEY POINTS

• MRI is a useful adjunct to prenatal ultrasound. • MRI has a higher accuracy rate for CP. • The accurate classification of CP diagnosed by MRI can guide clinical management.

Accurate diagnosis of prenatal cleft lip/palate by understanding the embryology

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CP) is one of the most common congenital malformations. Ultrasonographers involved in the routine 20-wk ultrasound screening could encounter these malformations. The face and palate develop in a very characteristic way. For ultrasonographers involved in screening these patients it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the embryology of the face. This could help them to make a more accurate diagnosis and save time during the ultrasound. Subsequently, the current postnatal classification will be discussed to facilitate the communication with the CP teams.

Two-Dimensional Identification of Fetal Tooth Germs

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the efficiency and applicability of two-dimensional ultrasonography in the identification of tooth germs and in the assessment of potential pathology.

DESIGN

Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Prenatal Diagnosis Unit of Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia / Espinho-Empresa Pública in Portugal.

PATIENTS

A total of 157 white pregnant women (median age, 32 years; range, 14 to 47 years) undergoing routine ultrasound exams.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Description of the fetal tooth germs, as visualized by two-dimensional ultrasonography, including results from prior fetal biometry and detailed screening for malformations.

RESULTS

In the first trimester group, ultrasonography identified 10 tooth germs in the maxilla and 10 tooth germs in the mandible in all fetuses except for one who presented eight maxillary tooth germs. This case was associated with a chromosomal abnormality (trisomy 13) with a bilateral cleft palate. In the second and third trimesters group, ultrasonography identified a larger range of tooth germs: 81.2% of fetuses showed 10 tooth germs in the maxilla and 85.0% of fetuses had 10 tooth germs in the mandible. Hypodontia was more prevalent in the maxilla than in the mandible, which led us to use qualitative two-dimensional ultrasonography to analyze the possible association between hypodontia and other variables such as fetal pathology, markers, head, nuchal, face, and spine.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend using this method as the first exam to evaluate fetal morphology and also to help establish accurate diagnosis of abnormalities in pregnancy.

Centralization of Services for Children Born with Orofacial Clefts in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Objective

To examine current provision of cleft lip and/or palate services in the U.K. and compliance with recommendations made by the Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG) in 1998.

Design

Cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Setting

All 11 services within the U.K. providing care for children born with a cleft lip and palate.

Participants

Members from each healthcare specialty in each U.K. cleft team.

Interventions

Self-administered postal questionnaires enquired about the provision of cleft services. Data were collected about the overall cleft service, team coordination, hearing, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, primary cleft surgery, psychology, restorative dentistry, secondary surgery, specialist cleft nursing, and speech and language therapy.

Results

Questionnaires were returned from members of 130/150 cleft teams (87%) and these showed that U.K. cleft services have been restructured to 11 centralized services with 17 primary operative sites and 61 peripheral sites. All services provide care through a multidisciplinary (MDT) model, but the composition of each team varies. Primary cleft surgery and orthodontics were the only specialties that were represented in all cleft teams. Specialties may be represented in a team but their attendance at MDT clinics is variable. Only one team met all of the CSAG recommendations.

Conclusions

Our survey shows that cleft services have centralized over the last 10 years, and an MDT model of care has been adopted. Further research is needed to show how this has influenced outcomes and to see whether some models of centralized care are associated with better outcomes.

Additional post-natal diagnoses following antenatal diagnosis of isolated cleft lip +/− palate

INTRODUCTION

Cleft lip with or without palate (CLP) can be diagnosed antenatally through ultrasound, and may be categorised as apparently isolated versus associated with other malformations. Limited data exist on the long-term outcomes following antenatal diagnosis of apparently isolated CLP.

AIM

This study examined the long-term post-natal outcomes of CLP when found in isolation antenatally, in order to determine the rates of unexpected additional anomalies, developmental delay or genetic syndromes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review of antenatal and post-natal medical charts was completed for a ten-year period between January 2000 and December 2009. At least 2 years of available post-natal clinical information was required for inclusion in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 97 cases of antenatally isolated CLP were ascertained. Fifteen pregnancies were terminated. Follow-up data were available for 81 liveborns, though 4 were lost to follow-up prior to 2 years of age. Twelve of the 77 children meeting study criteria were identified to have other major malformations and/or developmental disability either later in the pregnancy or post-natally. Findings included familial clefting syndromes, trisomy 21, autism spectrum disorders, brain malformations, fetal alcohol syndrome and Kabuki syndrome, among other findings. Another 11 children had additional anomalies of minor impact. Examples of findings include a perimembranous ventricular septal defect, mild unilateral optic nerve hypoplasia, mild pulmonary artery stenosis with a small atrial septal defect, and transient delays in fine and gross motor skills. No children with clefting of the lip only had major additional diagnoses.

Visualization of the fetal lip and palate: is brain-targeted MRI reliable?

Objective : To evaluate the ability of brain-targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the anatomy of the fetal upper lip and palate. Design : Two independent readers made a blind retrospective review of 60 brain-targeted MRIs of fetuses from 20 to 38 gestational weeks (GW). Fifty-five MRIs were normal and five had orofacial anomalies, including one isolated cleft lip and four cleft lip and palate. Both normal and cleft MRIs had postnatal confirmation. The upper lip, primary palate, secondary palate, and nasal septum were scored into four levels, from evidently normal to evidently abnormal. In case of a suspected pathology, the readers attempted a diagnosis. Setting : Collaboration between a university hospital and a large private practice MRI center. Results : Interobserver agreement (weighted kappa) was 0.79 for the upper lip, 0.70 for the primary palate, 0.86 for the secondary palate, and 0.90 for the nasal septum. The scoring levels of the readers did not change significantly across gestational age. Normality was correctly scored in 96% to 100% of the normal lips and primary palates and in 93% to 97% of the normal secondary palates depending on the reader. A deviated septum was only scored in two fetuses with unilateral cleft palates. The readers identified all pathological cases. Conclusion : Brain-targeted fetal MRI in experienced hands seems to be highly accurate for the evaluation of the lip and palate in fetuses above 20 GW, regardless of gestational age. The assessment of the secondary palate may be slightly more limited than the lip or primary palate.

First-trimester diagnosis of cleft lip and palate using three-dimensional ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether systematic examination of primary and secondary palates using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound aids in the identification of orofacial clefts in the first trimester.

METHODS

3D datasets were acquired prospectively from women undergoing first-trimester ultrasound screening for aneuploidy. Multiplanar mode display was used for offline analysis of (1) the primary palate in the coronal plane at the base of the retronasal triangle and (2) the secondary palate by virtual navigation in the axial plane. In addition, 3D datasets from three fetuses with a cleft palate diagnosed in the first trimester were retrospectively identified and included randomly in the study group.

RESULTS

A total of 240 3D datasets from 237 pregnancies (including three sets of twins), 89% of which were obtained transabdominally and 11% transvaginally, were examined independently by three operators. The quality of the 3D datasets was classified subjectively as good, fair and poor in 76%, 20% and 4% of cases, respectively. Seven fetuses had an orofacial cleft; all involved both the primary palate and the secondary palate. Using 3D offline analysis, the primary palate was classified as intact in 229 (95%), cleft in nine (4%) and indeterminate in two (1%). Seven of the nine fetuses suspected to have a cleft affecting the primary palate had the cleft confirmed at birth or at postmortem examination (false-positive rate 0.9% (2/231)). The secondary palate was classified as intact in 217 (90%), cleft in six (3%) and indeterminate in 17 (7%). Clefts of the secondary palate were confirmed in all six suspected cases and missed in one, which was diagnosed at 16 weeks. The visualization rate was affected by the quality of the 3D dataset (P < 0.001) and gestational age at evaluation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In our series, all cases of clefting of the primary palate and 86% of cases involving the secondary palate were visualized using 3D ultrasound with a satisfactory false-positive rate. Virtual navigation of the fetal palate using the multiplanar mode display seems to be useful in the diagnosis of clefting in the first trimester.

Directional Color Doppler Aids the 2D and 3D Prenatal Diagnosis of Cleft Lip and Palate With Antenatal Single-Shot Fast-Spin Echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging Confirmation

Standard 2D sonography has variable success in the prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip combined with cleft palate. A case is presented that demonstrates the added value of 3D sonography plus color Doppler imaging in confirming this diagnosis. Additional techniques such as the flipped-face view, the reverse-face view, and the oblique-face view are discussed as further enhancements to the prenatal sonographic study of the fetal palate.