Imaging Factors Affecting Prenatal Counseling in Orofacial Clefts

Abstract

Introduction: we aim to correlate pre-and postnatal data regarding the cleft type and surgical prognostic factors associated to orofacial clefts. Methods: retrospective study concerning all cases of orofacial cleft evaluated prenatally (US+/-MRI) between 2015 and 2020 with available postnatal outcome. We compared prenatal imaging (cleft type and surgical prognostic factors) with postnatal findings. Results: 48 fetuses were included. Median gestational age at first US/MRI examination: 29WG+2D and 31WG+6D respectively. The prenatal diagnosis was in accordance with postnatal findings with regard to the cleft type in 88% of the cases (n=42/48) for US and/or MRI, 84% (n=38/45) for US only and 90% (n=37/41) for MRI only. The nasal septum deviation and nostril collapse were underestimated by prenatal US in 48% (n=12/25) and 44% (n=11/25) of cases respectively (Cohen’s kappa of 0.22 and 0.32 respectively). Pre-and postnatal examinations were in accordance in 75% of cases (n=8) regarding evaluation of anteroposterior maxillary shift in case of unilateral alveolar cleft and in 90% and 80% of cases (n=10) regarding the degree of protrusion/deviation of the premaxillary protrusion in case of bilateral cleft respectively. Conclusion: Prenatal imaging can accurately assess the type of orofacial cleft and evaluate maxillary shift and deviation of the premaxilla. It underestimates the nose deformity.