MRI findings of fetal cleft lip and palate / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the MR findings of fetal cleft lip (CL) and evaluate the advantages and limitations of MRI in the diagnosis. Methods Twelve pregnant women suspicious of fetal CL/cleft palate(CP) on ultrasonography were enrolled in the study. The findings of ultrasonography, MRI and following-up were compared. Results MRI and ultrasonography detected 12 fetuses with CL/CP. The following-up results showed 1 case with incomplete cleft lip and the other 11 cases with complete cleft lips and cleft palates. MRI and unltrasonography were consistent with the follow-up in CL detection, showing completed or uncompleted soft tissue interruption of the fetal lips with amniotic fluid filling which is high signal on T_2WI. On MRI, CP showed discontinuous of the soft tissue which were interrupted by long T_2 signal and communicating with oral cavity and nasal cavity. MRI missed 1 case and excluded 1 case of CP. Ultrasonography predicted 5 case of CL, excluded 1 CP but missed 6 cases. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in detection CL/CP was 91.7% (11/12), 90.9% (10/11), 100% (1/1) for MRI and 50.0% (6/12),45.5% (5/11), 100% (1/1) for ultrasonography, respectively. Conclusion MR imaging had advantage over ultrasonography in detecting CP, MRI is an essential when CP is suspicious on ultrasonography.