Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is the second most common congenital facial deformity after cleft lip and cleft palate. It is a developmental disorder in structures originating from the first and second pharyngeal arches during the 4th and 6th weeks of pregnancy. Its distinctive features are underdevelopment of the mandible and/or maxilla, ear, orbit, facial soft tissue and facial nerve. CFM occurs most often on the right side of the face. In approximately 10% of cases, the disorder occurs bilaterally. Depending on the severity, CFM can cause problems in nutrition intake, breathing, hearing and facial muscle function. Furthermore, it can be related to epibulbar dermoids, vertebral malformations, cardiovascular malformations and malformations in lungs, brain and genitourinary system. 1-5 Fan
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.