ABSTRACT
Ultrasound recognition of facial clefts involves obtaining a coronal surface view of the face showing the lips and nostrils. The defect in the alveolar ridge is demonstrable on a transverse view (often mistaken for the primary/hard palate). A profile view may demonstrate a pre-maxillary protrusion in cases of bilateral cleft lip/alveolus. The primary palate is not normally visualized on ultrasound. The defect of the alveolar ridge can be demonstrated by, and in most cases is associated with, a defect of the primary palate. Prenatal diagnosis of cleft palate in the absence of a cleft lip/alveolus is extremely difficult. Recently, the use of ‘reverse face view’ on threedimensional ultrasound has been described to improve prenatal identification of defects of the palate.
