Cartilaginous septum deviation in children with cleft lip, alveolus and palate – an MRI analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate by MRI examination the degree of deviation of the cartilaginous septum in relation to cleft size in patients with cleft lip, alveolus and palate. Six children with cleft lip, alveolus and palate at age 5-20 days were examined with a 1.0 Tesla scanner using a head coil. The following parameters were evaluated: maximal cleft size (millimeter) and degree of the nasal septum deviation from the median-sagittal plane (degrees). Two children with bilateral clefts had no deviation; 3 children with unilateral (left-sided) cleft had a deviation to the right and 1 patient with a unilateral right-sided cleft a deviation to the left side. In all 4 patients, the degree of the nasal septum deviation increased with cleft size. Cartilaginous nasal septum deviation was noticed only in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate toward the non-cleft side and was greater with increasing cleft sizes.