Improving the efficiency of prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate

Objective: to identify the most effective and affordable method to diagnose various types of fetal cleft lip and palate, the use of which is possible in the majority of specialized obstetric care facilities. Material and methods. The study included the results of ultrasound examination of fetuses (59 cases) in various modes with cleft lip and palate of various types within gestational periods from 16 to 36 weeks. Results. The sensitivity indices of the generally accepted method of two-dimensional B-mode ultrasound have been determined for diagnosing all types of clefts, which amounted to 81.3 %, and the sensitivity for diagnosing cleft palate and cleft lip and palate amounted to 80.3 %. The sensitivity indices of the newly developed diagnostic method (ultrasound elastography of the palate) have been determined, which amounted to 89.8 % in the diagnosis of all types of clefts, and 90.2 % in the diagnosis of cleft palate and cleft lip and palate (46/51). Demonstration of the image of the fetal face obtained during the three-dimensional B-mode reconstruction to its future parents helps the family to make a more balanced and correct decision on further pregnancy tactics. In cases of cleft palate, a new visualization diagnostic criterion has been defined - tongue bifurcation. MRI of the fetal head is not an effective and affordable method for the diagnosis of facial clefts, which can be widely used in practice. Conclusion: It is advisable and necessary to conduct an obligatory study of the karyotype in fetuses with crevices identified during imaging examination at any gestational age. As a new diagnostic criterion for cleft palate, detected by B-mode ultrasound, tongue bifurcation can be used. The utilization of the EN method in combination with the developed coloristic criteria for RHN and RN increases their prenatal detection in general population by 9.9 %. At the same time, the detectability of all types of crevices increases by 8.5 %. In order to objectify the explanations about the essence of revealed defects of the face and structures of the oral cavity, it is necessary to demonstrate a three-dimensional sonogram of the fetal face obtained during three-dimensional B-mode reconstruction to its future parents. MRI of the fetal head cannot be recommended as an effective and affordable method for diagnosing facial clefts due to the impossibility to obtain a satisfactory image in most cases.

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