The value of color Doppler signal at the nasal lip in the diagnosis of fetal cleft palate

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of color Doppler signal at the nasal lip in the diagnosis of fetal cleft palate. Methods Twenty fetuses diagnosed with fetal cleft lip and cleft palate by targeted ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were enrolled in this study. Color Doppler was used during each ultrasound scan. All prenatal diagnoses were confirmed either by postnatal follow-up or autopsy. The location and degree of cleft lip and palate was also recorded. During inspiration or swallowing color signal acrossed the defects at the fetal palate was indicated cleft palate, and no color signal acrossed the defects at the fetal palate was indicated without cleft palate. Two dimensional ultrasound combined with color Doppler was used to diagnose cleft lip and palate in midsagittal plane or paratsagittal plane, then compared with the results of post-natal evaluation or abortion, and the value of color signal at the nasal lip in the diagnosis of fetal cleft palate was analyzed. Results Twenty cases of postpartum fetus (including post-natal evaluation or abortion ) confirmed 15 cases of cleft lip and palate, 5 cases of cleft lip (2 cases with upper alveolar cleft). For prenatal diagnosis, 5 cases of cleft lip and 15 cases of cleft lip and palate were diagnosed by two-dimensional ultrasound, of which 3 cases of cleft lip and palate were misdiagnosed as cleft lip, whereas 3 cases of cleft lip were misdiagnosed as cleft lip and palate with 2 cases combined with upper alveolar cleft. Two-dimensional ultrasound in the diagnosis of cleft lip and palate is consistent with postnatal results by additional evaluation of the color signal in nasolabial area in median sagittal section. In the cleft lip and cleft lip with the alveolar cleft fetuses, the color signal in nasolabial area was undetectable during fetal respiratory-like movement or swallowing by ultrasound.However, it was detectable in cleft lip and palate fetuses. A total of 3 cases of simple cleft lip and 17 cases of cleft lip and palate were detected by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). In 2 cases of cleft lip and palate diagnosed by MRI, no blood flow signal was detected at the nasolabial area. Conclusions The connected color signal in nasolabial area assessed by color Doppler ultrasound during fetal respiratory-like movement or swallowing showed an promising value for prenatal diagnosis of cleft palate. Cleft palate could be ruled out if the connected color signal was undetectable in nasolabial area. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Cleft palate; Color Doppler signal