Prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip/palate: The surface rendered oro-palatal (SROP) view of the fetal lips and palate, a tool to improve information-sharing within the orofacial team and with the parents

Abstract

The ultrasonographic surface rendered oro-palatal (SROP) view is a 3D reconstructed view of the fetal perioral region, which combines ultrasound insonation in a trans oral, upward directed axial direction and the surface rendered mode. It allows the simultaneous visualization on a single scan of the superior lip, alveolar ridge and secondary palate. It corresponds prenatally to the submental intra oral photography of the palate of neonates. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the benefice of using the SROP view in the management of cleft lip with or without cleft palate, uni- or bi-lateral, diagnosed prenatally (22-28 gestational weeks). The SROP view allowed the representation on a single view of the characteristics of the defect useful to the different members of the orofacial team to exactly evaluate the difformity and to plan the ulterior therapeutic steps (e.g. side, extension of the cleft to the secondary palate, tooth organization). Also, being easier to read by lay people thanks to the use of a surface rendered representation rather than the usual multiplanar reconstructions in the three traditional orthogonal planes, the SROP view makes it easier to bring exact information to the parents about the malformation and its consequences.

Keywords: Cleft lip ± palate; Information-sharing; Prenatal diagnosis; Surface rendered oro-palatal (SROP) ultrasonographic view.