Abstract
Objective: Cleft palates are still considered as impossible or very difficult to study in 2D or in 3D, and impossible in routine examination. We described a new approach to identify normal palate and it’s pathology. Since 1 year, a new treatment of 3D acquisition can be applied with this method. Method: This easy 2D approach, has been realised with success on every fetuses seen, aged from 18 to 35 Weeks since 2002 (that is to say more than 7000 fetuses), sometimes completed with 3D view. Using precise guide marks, this approach allows a direct very echogenic visualisation of the osseous palate’s posterior wall, proving it’s integrity. Keeping the same guide lines, 3D thick view often visualise the whole palate. Results: With this approach the visualisation of the posterior wall has always been successful and registered. First we could definite criteria of a normal palate. We could also have cleft lips and we could demonstrate the associated cleft palate and the duplication of the uvula. Further we could diagnose cleft palate without cleft lips, short palate (helped with 3D view), and one suspected ogival palate, confirmed with a sagittal view (3D thick view wasn’t available). All these findings have been confirmed by postnatal examination. There hasn’t be any false negative or false positive cases about the integrity of the palate. We described the guidelines we used in this study with 2D and 3D view, the criteria of normal palate, it’s pitfalls, and the sonographic characteristics of cleft and in ogival forms. Conclusion: This study demonstrate than the palate is possible to visualise, even in routine, with a very good prediction of it’s normality or pathology. This will be a great help for parents avoiding the surprise of this pathology or eliminate the cleft palate’s fear. It will be also useful for the surgeon in case of cleft lip for example to explain the parents the more precisely possible what will occur after birth.
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