ABSTRACT
Congenital abnormalities of the head and neck are complex and often confusing. The incidence of congenital craniofacial anomalies varies in different parts of the world and is often not easy to quantify. The diagnosis of the craniofacial anomalies has, in recent years, undergone a massive change on two fronts: first, advances in ultrasonography have increased the rate of prenatal diagnosis and impacted management significantly; second, the rapid expansion in genetic understanding has led to many more mutations being linked to particular phenotypes. There have been a few reported cases of prenatal surgery when a diagnosis was made or suspected prenatally. However, these procedures remain at present experimental; in general, the options open are for termination or best supportive care in preparation for the birth. In many of the craniofacial conditions the airway can be affected and may be fully or partially obstructed.
