Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detection of Brain Abnormalities in Fetuses with Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence of brain abnormalities identified by prenatal imaging of fetuses with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CUP) or cleft palate only (CP) and to compare with postnatal imaging and neurologic evaluation. Design This was a retrospective review of radiologic images (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and sonography) of fetuses diagnosed with CUP or CP at the Advanced Fetal Care Center at Children's Hospital Boston between 2002 and 2008. Images were reviewed for possible brain abnormalities by a pediatric radiologist who specializes in this field. Postnatal imaging was also assessed whenever available and correlated with clinical findings. Setting A large, tertiary-care, academic pediatric hospital. Population One hundred twenty-six fetuses and 105 corresponding infants. Results Brain abnormalities were found in 8 of 126 fetuses (6.3%) by prenatal MRI. The malformations were corpus callosal dysgenesis (n = 3), encephalocele (n = 1), hypoplasia of the cerebellar hemispheres or vermis (n = 3), and white matter neuronal migration anomaly (n = 1). An additional 2 patients were diagnosed with brain abnormalities postnatally that had not been detected on prenatal imaging. Conclusions The possibility of brain anomalies should be assessed in a fetus found to have CUP or CP by sonography and/or MRI. Central nervous system imaging and careful neurodevelopmental follow-up is indicated in these infants.