facial clefts

Facial clefts comprise a wide spectrum of pathologies that result from failure of fusion in the facial region during the embryonic/early fetal period. The result is a gap in the fetal face. These clefts can affect the lip, philtrum, alveolus, and hard and soft palate to varying degrees.

Entities that fall under this group include

• cleft lip +/- palate spectrum
• isolated cleft palate
• craniofacial clefts

Overall there is a broad spectrum of severity ranging from minimal defects (e.g bifid uvula) to large deep clefts involving both bone and soft tissues.

Epidemiology

The estimated incidence of isolated facial clefts may be as high as 1 in 1000 births .

Pathology

Classification

There are several classification systems for facial clefts

• Van der Meulen classification system 
• Tessier classification system

Siehe auch:

• Lippen-Kiefer-Gaumen-Spalte
• isolierte Gaumenspalte

und weiter:

• cyllosoma
• Thalidomid-Embryopathie
• CHARGE-Syndrom
• Goldenhar-Gorlin-Syndrom
• Gaumenspalte
• mid facial hypoplasia
• ectrodactyly-ectrodermal dysplasia-clefting syndrome
• differential diagnosis of an absent fetal stomach on ultrasound