Craniofacial Anomalies Flashcards
In the United States, occurrence of encephaloceles is most common in which of the following anatomic regions?
(A) Frontoethmoidal
(B) Occipital
(C) Parietal
(D) Sphenoidal
The correct response is Option B.
In the United States, encephaloceles are most common in the occipital location. In Asia, they are more common in the frontoethmoidal region. The prognosis with these malformations depends upon the presence or absence of herniated brain tissue in the encephalocele.
Which of the following facial anomalies is most common in patients with craniofacial microsomia?
(A) Facial nerve palsy
(B) Mandibular hypoplasia
(C) Maxillary hypoplasia
(D) Microtia
(E) Parotid gland hypoplasia
The correct response is Option B.
Craniofacial microsomia represents the second most common congenital anomaly affecting the head and neck behind cleft of the lip and/or palate. Multiple craniofacial and other anomalies are commonly seen as part of the constellation of findings. The most common anomalies are those affecting the mandible (89% to 100%) and ear (66% to 99%). Less common associations that must be sought involve the vertebrae and ribs (16% to 60%), ipsilateral facial nerve (10% to 45%), and genitourinary structures (4% to 15%), among others.
A 4-month-old female infant is brought to the office for evaluation. A photograph is shown. Which of the following additional abnormalities are most likely associated with this patient’s condition?
A) Glossoptosis and cleft palate
B) Hydronephrosis of the kidneys and hearing loss
C) Lacrimal duct obstruction and coloboma of the eyelids
D) Posterior fossa abnormalities and stenotic cerebral arteries
E) Supernumerary teeth and duplicate maxilla

The correct response is Option E.
The patient described has bilateral macrostomia, also known as Tessier No. 7 cleft, the most common facial cleft in the Tessier classification system. This resulted from the failure of fusion between the maxillary and mandibular processes. Repair of the macrostomia can be undertaken in the first months of life. Duplicated maxilla has been reported in as high as 39% of patients with macrostomia. It is defined as having multiple supernumerary teeth and marked overlap of the maxillary arches. Other craniofacial findings such as mild mandibular/condylar anomalies and alveolar clefting have also been reported. The anatomy can be defined by three-dimensional CT scan and panoramic x-ray study (Panorex). Therefore, it is important to continue to observe these children with dental and orthodontic workups as they grow, even after the repair of the macrostomia.
Glossoptosis and cleft palate are associated with Pierre Robin sequence. Renal anomalies may be associated with congenital anomalies of the ears, such as in branchiootorenal syndrome.
Posterior fossa abnormalities and intracranial arterial anomalies are associated with PHACE syndrome. (P, posterior fossa; H, hemangioma; A, arterial anomalies; C, cardiac defects; E, eye anomalies).
Coloboma of the eyelids and lacrimal gland anomalies are associated with Tessier No. 3 clefts (oro-nasal-ocular clefts).
Macrostomia is most commonly associated with hemifacial microsomia.
During orbital dissection in preparation for orbital box osteotomy, which of the following anatomical landmarks serves as the starting point for lateral wall osteotomy?
A) Anterior ethmoid foramen
B) Dacryon
C) Inferior orbital fissure
D) Optic foramen
E) Superior orbital fissure
The correct response is Option C.
The inferior orbital fissure serves as the starting and ending point of the orbital box osteotomy since only temporal fat is within this fissure. No critical nerves or blood vessels are in this fissure more peripherally. Major structures, such as the infraorbital nerve, travel for a short distance across the apex of the infraorbital fissure as it exits the foramen rotundum and enters the infraorbital canal. Dacryon marks the posterior border of the lacrimal sac. The optic nerve is within the optic foramen, and cranial nerves III, IV, and VI travel in the superior orbital fissure.
Patients with hemifacial microsomia have an increased incidence of which of the following?
A) Craniosynostosis
B) Glossoptosis
C) Hemihypertrophy
D) Microstomia
E) Velopharyngeal insufficiency
The correct response is Option E.
Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is the second most common congenital anomaly, with a reported incidence of approximately one in 5,600 live births. It is thought to be a result of vascular injury to the first and second branchial arches during the 30th to 45th day of pregnancy. The presentation of HFM is highly variable and ranges from mild facial asymmetry and microtia to a severe asymmetry of the orbit and mid and lower faces. Vertebral, cardiac, and renal malformations can also occur with HFM.
A number of studies document velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in patients with HFM. This VPI results from a unilateral hypodynamic palate. With this lack of movement, the nasopharyngeal port cannot be closed fully, and the speech is hypernasal. Some patients are able to compensate for the asymmetry of the palatal movement and have normal speech. Approximately 15% of patients with HFM have evidence of VPI based on speech evaluation and nasoendoscopy.
An otherwise healthy 5-year-old girl has a yellow, cystic mass on the left sclera, a left preauricular branchial cleft remnant, elevation of the left oral commissure, and soft-tissue deficiency of the left face. It is most appropriate to order which of the following tests to assess for significant comorbidities?
A) Echocardiography
B) Fluorescence in situ hybridization of the branchial cleft remnant
C) Funduscopic examination
D) MRI of the brain
E) Plain x-ray studies of the hands
The correct response is Option C.
The patient described has Goldenhar syndrome, a severe form of hemifacial microsomia with variable ear anomalies, mandibular hypoplasia leading to occlusal cant and oral commissure asymmetry, and soft-tissue deficiency on the affected side. Ocular findings associated with Goldenhar syndrome are variable and common (50% incidence) and can occur as epibulbar dermoids as described in this patient as well as microphthalmia, eyelid and optic nerve colobomas (interruption of a circular structure of the eye). Colobomas can be asymptomatic (affecting the iris alone), can lead to exposure keratopathy (in the case of eyelid colobomas), or can lead to visual disturbances (optic disc/nerve coloboma), such as visual field deficits or amblyopia. Care must be taken to identify visual disturbances early in order to implement contralateral eye penalization, or patching, to maximize visual development of the affected eye. The other tests target areas that are not affected in patients with Goldenhar syndrome.
A 3-month-old infant presents with flattening of the left forehead, and asymmetry of the orbits and face. He has early evidence of right-sided astigmatism and ocular torticollis. A CT scan is shown. The parents are considering two options: endoscopic suturectomy and helmet therapy at age 3 months or frontoorbital advancement (FOA) at age 9 months. Compared with endoscopic suturectomy and helmet therapy, FOA is more likely to result in which of the following surgical outcomes?
A) Greater need for revision
B) Greater postoperative facial symmetry
C) Less operative morbidity
D) Lower overall cost
E) More severe strabismus
The correct response is Option E.
Surgical intervention is recommended for most patients with craniosynostosis due to the variable risk for increased intracranial pressure (ICP), localized cerebral compression, and developmental delay. Traditional treatment techniques such as fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) and total cranial vault remodeling are still widely used, but minimally invasive options such as endoscopic suturectomy and postoperative helmet therapy (ES + HT), spring-mediated distraction, and conventional distraction have become more commonplace. While each technique has its ardent supporters, there is a growing number of studies that compare the clinical outcomes of each technique. ES + HT is most effective when performed under 4 months of age because the correction depends solely on cranial expansion, while spring-mediated distraction is typically done in older infants (4 to 8 months of age). Cranial remodeling has no strict age limit, but many surgeons defer treatment until 7 to 10 months to decrease the risk associated with anesthesia and recurrence of the malformation. Despite these concerns, there are some data that support early cranial expansion (<6 months of age) to optimize neurocognitive outcomes. Compared with FOA, endoscopic and spring-mediated distraction techniques are less costly, less morbid, and have similar revision. The patient has left unilateral coronal craniosynostosis (UCS), which manifests as ipsilateral forehead and brow retrusion and shortening of the ipsilateral hemi-cranium, with orbital and facial asymmetry. Open cranial vault procedures do not directly correct the facial symmetry and at least two investigations show better facial asymmetry is achieved with early, minimally invasive approaches. The orbital asymmetry results in strabismus (contralateral head tilting termed ocular torticollis) and contralateral astigmatism in the majority of patients. Several studies confirm significantly better ophthalmologic outcomes following early endoscopic suturectomy for UCS versus FOA performed at an older age.
A 28-year-old man is evaluated because of the facial deformity shown in the photograph. Three years ago, he underwent resection of an infratemporal malignancy and intraoperative alloplastic reconstruction of bony defects. Postoperatively, he underwent extensive radiation therapy. Which of the following is the most appropriate method for restoring facial volume in this patient?
A) Custom-fabricated alloplastic implantation
B) Dermal fat grafting
C) Implantation of layered acellular dermis
D) Parascapular free flap reconstruction
E) Serial fat grafting

The correct response is Option D.
The patient described has marked loss of facial soft-tissue volume related to the initial tumor resection and the adverse effects of postoperative radiation treatment. The best method for restoring soft-tissue volume is a scapular free flap. This method of reconstruction has advantages over the others listed. The free scapular flap does not rely on the damaged and scarred soft-tissue envelope for vascular support and, thus, it will retain its volume. In contrast, fat grafting, dermal fat graft, and layered acellular dermis all undergo some resorption, especially in this poorly vascularized recipient site. The scapular flap is of sufficient thickness to correct even a volume defect of this size. Although the other soft-tissue reconstructive options can improve contour, the volume required in this patient cannot be achieved with these modalities alone. The use of an alloplastic reconstruction alone can improve mid-facial volume, but will not address the lower third deficit. In addition, there is a moderate risk of extrusion and/or infection with this technique alone.

Which of the following findings is commonly caused by nonsyndromic unicoronal synostosis?
(A) Anterior displacement of the ipsilateral ear
(B) Deviation of the root of the nose to the contralateral side
(C) Flattening of the ipsilateral aspect of the occiput
(D) Occlusal cant up on the ipsilateral side
(E) Recession of the contralateral forehead
The correct response is Option A.
Nonsyndromic unicoronal synostosis commonly causes anterior displacement of the ipsilateral ear toward the affected suture. It also typically results in ipsilateral flattening and contralateral bossing of the forehead and deviation of the root of the nose to the ipsilateral side toward the affected suture. Unicoronal synostosis does not typically affect occlusion on either side and is not likely to cause significant change in occipital shape.
A 2-month-old male infant is brought to the office because of mid face hypoplasia, craniosynostosis, and bilateral hand and foot anomalies. A photograph of the left foot is shown. This patient most likely has which of the following syndromes?
A) Apert
B) Crouzon
C) Goldenhar
D) Nager
E) Treacher Collins

The correct response is Option A.
The patient described has Apert syndrome. This autosomal dominant syndrome is characterized by bicoronal craniosynostosis that leads to turribrachycephaly, mid face hypoplasia, and complex hand and feet syndactyly. Patients with Crouzon syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder, typically have craniosynostosis involving the coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures, as well as turribrachycephaly. Other findings include mid face hypoplasia, exorbitism, and proptosis. The extremities are normal.
Goldenhar syndrome, or oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia, involves asymmetry of the hard and soft tissues of the face. This condition is most commonly unilateral but may be seen bilaterally in some patients. Manifestations of this syndrome include hypoplasia involving the mandible and underlying soft tissues of the face, epibulbar dermoids, and varied degrees of microtia on the affected side. Most patients have associated vertebral abnormalities. Nager syndrome, or acrofacial dysostosis, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by craniofacial and upper extremity abnormalities. Patients with Nager syndrome have hypoplasia of the orbits, zygoma, maxilla, mandible, and soft palate. Auricular defects may also be present. Hypoplasia or agenesis occurs in the radius, thumbs, and metacarpals. Some patients may have radioulnar synostosis and elbow joint deformities. Patients with Treacher Collins syndrome, or mandibular dysostosis, have hypoplasia of the zygoma, maxilla, and mandible, downward slanting of the palpebral fissures, colobomas of the lower eyelids, absence of eyelashes, and auricular defects.
A 14-year-old girl is brought to the office by her parents for consultation regarding facial asymmetry. On the basis of the photograph shown, which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
(A) Congenital cranial (VII) nerve palsy
(B) Craniofacial microsomia
(C) Goldenhar syndrome
(D) Romberg disease
(E) Unilateral coronal craniosynostosis
The correct response is Option D.
The patient shown has Romberg disease (progressive hemifacial atrophy). This is a unilateral condition that affects girls more commonly than boys, and onset is in childhood with progression from 2 to 10 years of age. It usually involves skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone but spares the cranial nerves and their function. Treatment is complex, with reconstruction of facial bone structure and augmentation followed by cutaneous contour correction with free tissue transfer. Parascapular flap is the flap of choice.
Unilateral coronal craniosynostosis can result in incomplete correction of vertical dystopia, secondary to continued growth constriction at the affected side cranial base. Soft-tissue loss and lower face asymmetry are not associated features.
Hemifacial microsomia is a congenital, nonprogressive abnormality of the first branchial arch derivatives (ie, mandible and auricle). The mandibular ramus and condyle are variably hypoplastic, and overlying soft tissues (muscle, subcutaneous fat) are often hypoplastic. Ipsilateral macrostomia (transverse facial cleft) can also present in this syndrome.
Goldenhar syndrome is a variant of craniofacial microsomia and is distinguished by presence of concomitant ocular abnormalities, including epibulbar dermoid.
A 12-year-old boy is evaluated for a vertical furrow near the midline of his face from the hairline to the eyebrows. Each of the listed clinical findings can be seen in hemifacial atrophy EXCEPT:
A) Atrophy of the tongue
B) Change in facial sensation
C) Malar hypoplasia
D) Malocclusion
E) Mandible hypoplasia

The correct response is Option B.
The relationship between morphea en coup de sabre and Parry-Romberg syndrome is unclear but there is some overlap. Morphea is characterized by the vertical furrow, atrophy of the tongue and upper lip, absent or flattened zygoma, orbital rim, and a hypoplastic maxilla and mandible on the affected side. A lateral open bite may be seen due to the maxillary and mandibular hypoplasia. Sensation, function of muscles of facial expression, and mastication are normal.
A 6-month-old female infant is brought to the office because of a wide, tall forehead, low-set ears, and supraorbital rim retrusion. CT scan demonstrates bicoronal synostosis. Genetic testing is positive for TWIST mutation. Which of the following additional findings is/are characteristic of this patient’s disorder?
a Cervical spine anomalies
b. Complete cartilaginous tracheal rings
c. Eyelid ptosis
d. Gastroschisis
e. Thumb duplication
The correct response is Option C.
The patient described has Saethre-Chotzen syndrome as confirmed by bilateral coronal synostosis, low-set ears, and mutations of the TWIST gene. In addition to these findings, patients with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome often have eyelid ptosis, which is a distinguishing feature from other forms of syndromic craniosynostosis. It is important to recognize ptosis in infants and young children in order to maintain adequate visual pathway development. Thumb duplication is not found in patients with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome. Tracheal anomalies are associated with Pfeiffer syndrome. Cervical spine anomalies can be found in both Apert and Pfeiffer syndromes. Gastroschisis is not associated with syndromic craniosynostosis.
Reference(s)
- Jadico SK, Huebner A, McDonald-McGinn DM, et al. Ocular phenotype correlations in patients with TWIST versus FGFR3 genetic mutations. J AAPOS. 2006 Oct;10(5):435-44.
- Tahiri Y, Bastidas N, McDonald-McGinn DM, et al. New Pattern of Sutural Synostosis Associated With TWIST Gene Mutation and Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome: Peace Sign Synostosis. Bartlett SP. J Craniofac Surg. 2015 Jul;26(5):1564-7.
- Taylor JA, Bartlett SP. What’s New in Syndromic Craniosynostosis Surgery? Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Jul;140(1):82e-93e.
According to Tessier’s classification, which of the following is the most common craniofacial cleft?
(A) No. 0
(B) No. 3
(C) No. 4
(D) No. 6
(E) No. 7
The correct response is Option E.
The Tessier classification of craniofacial clefting was first proposed in 1973. This system integrates both tissue findings and underlying skeletal deformities; embryopathogenesis is not considered. Clefts No. 0 through 7 are located in the lower half of the face, while Nos. 9 through 14 occur in the upper hemisphere. According to the Tessier system, the No. 7 cleft is most common. This sporadic cleft, which has variable expressivity, is most likely to be seen in male neonates and occurs in one of every 3000 neonates. Macrostomia and absence of the zygomatic arch are typically associated.
Tessier No. 3 cleft involves the orbit. The cleft through the lip is located in the same position as a midline unilateral cleft lip. In the nasal area, the cleft changes its course and undermines the ala. The medial canthus is displaced inferiorly. Colobomas of the lower eyelid are medial to the punctum. The osseous component passes through the alveolus between the lateral incisor and canine. The cleft disrupts the lateral border of the piriform aperture.
Tessier No. 4 cleft passes lateral to the cupid’s bow and philtrum. In most affected patients, the cleft is located lateral to the nasolacrimal canal and sac. Like the Tessier No. 3 cleft, the osseous component is located between the lateral incisor and canine. However, unlike the No. 3 cleft, the No. 4 cleft spares the piriform aperture and courses medial to the intraorbital foramen.
Tessier No. 6 cleft involves an incomplete form of Treacher Collins syndrome. The cleft is directed inferior and lateral to the oral commissure toward the angle of the mandible. Colobomas of the lateral lower eyelids are seen.
A 25-year-old woman comes to the office because of a 5-year history of stable facial asymmetry. Physical examination shows fullness of the right mandibular angle; no facial tenderness, masses, or lymphadenopathy is noted. Maxillofacial CT scan shows enlargement of the right masseter muscle compared with the left. Which of the following is the most appropriate first-line treatment for this problem?
A) Fabrication of a bite guard to treat bruxism
B) Injection of botulinum toxin type A into the right masseter muscle
C) Open subtotal myectomy of the right masseter muscle
D) Placement of a left mandibular angle prosthesis
E) Referral to oncology to rule out systemic amyloidosis
The correct response is Option B.
The patient described has benign or idiopathic masseter hypertrophy. The classic patient comes to the office because of aesthetic complaints but is otherwise asymptomatic. There are numerous treatments, including partial myotomy, mandibular angle reduction, and contralateral augmentation. Of all the options, the best is botulinum toxin type A injections. These injections are minimally invasive and reversible, and they do not require an anesthetic. On the basis of its low–risk profile, it is the best first-line treatment listed. Amyloidosis is a progressive systemic disease that can cause myopathy and painful bilateral masseter hypertrophy. It is unlikely in this stable, unilateral case. Bruxism can cause masseter hypertrophy, which is most often bilateral. A bite guard will prevent tooth damage, but it will not correct hypertrophy.
A 2-day-old male newborn is evaluated for the skull findings shown in the CT scan. Which of the following best describes the anomaly in this patient?
A) Brachycephaly
B) Kleeblattschädel deformity
C) Posterior plagiocephaly
D) Scaphocephaly
E) Trigonocephaly

The correct response is Option B.
This CT scan shows craniosynostosis of multiple sutures including the coronal, lambdoid, and a portion of the sagittal suture, which is characteristic of a Kleeblattschädel deformity. Brachycephaly is characterized by bicoronal craniosynostosis alone and is most commonly seen in syndromic craniosynostosis. Scaphocephaly is isolated involvement of the sagittal suture and is the most common type of craniosynostosis. Metopic synostosis is the cause of trigoncephaly and this suture is open in the CT scan. Lambdoid, which produces posterior plagiocephaly synostosis, is seen in the CT scan but not in isolation and is the least common of the single suture synostoses.
A 6-year-old boy is brought to the office by his parents for consultation regarding bilateral congenital facial palsy and syndactyly of the hands. He underwent surgical correction of strabismus five years ago. Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms?
A) Apert syndrome
B) Bell palsy
C) Goldenhar syndrome
D) Hemifacial microsomia
E) Möbius syndrome
Correct answer is option E.
Möbius syndrome is a developmental disorder characterized by bilateral facial palsy and abducens nerve paralysis. Strabismus surgery is performed to correct paralysis of lateral gaze. Limb abnormalities, including clubfeet, syndactyly, and rudimentary fingers or toes, have been reported in 25% of cases. Additional cranial nerves (III, V, IX, XI, and XII) may be involved in Möbius syndrome, and some patients may present with congenital unilateral or partial facial paralysis. Hemifacial microsomia is a morphogenetic anomaly that can affect the skeletal, soft tissue, and neuromuscular structures derived from the first and second branchial arches. Typical cases have hypoplasia of the mandible that may be accompanied by hypoplasia of the zygoma and maxilla. Because the facial nerve is derived from the second branchial arch, patients with hemifacial microsomia can present with a congenital facial palsy. Goldenhar syndrome is hemifacial microsomia with epibulbar dermoids and vertebral anomalies. Apert syndrome is characterized by coronal craniosynostosis, syndactyly, and retardation. Bell palsy is a demyelinating inflammatory process of the facial nerve that classically presents as an acute unilateral facial paralysis and is believed to be caused by the herpes simplex virus.
A 3-month-old male infant is brought to the office by his parents for evaluation of skull asymmetry that has worsened since birth. Birth history includes prolonged labor that required cesarean delivery. Physical examination shows flattening of the right posterior occiput with ipsilateral forehead bossing. From a superior view, the right ear is 1 cm more anterior than the left ear, and the anterior fontanelle is open without any bulging. The child’s head tilts to the right and has decreased range of motion when looking to the left. The left side of his neck feels tighter and more rigid compared with the right side. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management of this child?
A) Cerebral palsy evaluation
A) Occupational therapy of the neck
A) Posterior cranial vault expansion
D) Passive molding helmet therapy
E) Sternocleidomastoid muscle release
The correct response is Option B.
This child demonstrates the classic presentation of deformation plagiocephaly with his posterior occiput flattening and compensatory ipsilateral forehead bossing with anterior shifting of his ear on the same side. There are many reasons for deformational plagiocephaly, especially with the current practice of “back to sleep.” Treatment of this focuses on removing the pressure on the affected side. His head tilt and decreased motion are consistent with torticollis. Initial treatment is stretching and occupational therapy to restore usage and balance of his neck muscles. Although helmet therapy can help alleviate pressure on this side, it is not addressing the issue. Further studies have demonstrated that deformational plagiocephaly can be treated with positional changes and behavior modification up until 7 to 8 months of age without difference in head asymmetry compared with those children who began helmet therapy at a younger age. There is no difference in children who fail positional changes compared with those who initiate helmet therapy immediately. At this child’s age of 3 months and with obvious torticollis, the most appropriate initial therapy should be focused on resolving his torticollis and giving him a trial of non-helmet therapy.
An 8-month-old female infant is brought to the office by her parents. Physical examination shows a wedge-shaped skull with a keel formation on the forehead, close-set eyes, and hollowness of the temporal fossa on both sides of the head. Premature cranial suture ossification at which of the following sites is the most likely cause of this patient’s condition?
A) Bicoronal
B) Lambdoid
C) Metopic
D) Sagittal
E) Unicoronal
The correct response is Option C.
Craniosynostosis refers to the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures that make up the cranial vault and cranial base. Once this fusion occurs prematurely, the growth of the skull is altered and the development of the head takes on a characteristic morphologic shape that is determined by the fusing suture.
Trigonocephaly is classically characterized by a typically wedge-shaped skull when viewed from above; it originates from a premature stenosis of the metopic suture followed by a bilateral growth restriction of the forehead. This results in bitemporal narrowing and hypotelorism.
Plagiocephaly or unilateral coronal synostosis is characterized by the flattening of the forehead and frontoparietal region ipsilateral to the fused suture. As a result of this fusion, a compensatory bulge occurs in the opposite frontoparietal skull. The temporal fossa on the side of the fusion is convex and the ear becomes anteriorly displaced. The petrous portion of the temporal bone that contains the glenoid fossa is also displaced forward and the articulation with the mandible is displaced forward as a result. The nasal radix is also deviated toward the fused side and the tip of the nose is turned to the opposite side.
Ridging of the sagittal suture forms a narrow biparietal skull. Scaphocephaly shows compensatory growth in the frontal region or frontal bossing and/or occipital coning. There is associated enlargement of the head circumference. Sagittal synostosis remains the most frequent of the nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.
Unilateral lambdoid synostosis has ridging of the lambdoid suture, ipsilateral parieto-occipital flattening, prominence of the mastoid air cells, posterior displacement of the ear on the side of the occipital flattening, and scoliosis of the base of the skull, resulting in curvature of the cervical spine.
In the Tessier system, which of the following classifications represents the most common facial cleft?
A) Tessier No. 0
B) Tessier No. 3
C) Tessier No. 7
D) Tessier No. 9
E) Tessier No. 14
The most common facial cleft is a Tessier No. 7. This is a cleft that begins at the lateral oral commissure and extends laterally. From a soft-tissue standpoint, it creates macrostomia. A Tessier No. 0 cleft involves the midline of the upper lip and nose. The Tessier No. 14 cleft is the cranial extension of this. A Tessier No. 3 cleft involves the lateral nasal ala and the medial canthus of the eye. A Tessier No. 9 cleft is actually the least common cleft. It extends from the superolateral orbit into the temporal region.
The ear anomaly depicted in the photograph shown is most commonly found in patients with which of the following syndromes?
A) Apert
B) Klippel-Trenaunay
C) Stickler
D) Treacher Collins
E) Van der Woude

The correct response is Option D.
The photograph depicts a patient with lobular type microtia and represents failure of formation of the pinna of the ear. Patients commonly have stenosis or absence of the external auditory canal, and in cases of lobular type microtia, exhibit a microtic remnant composed of malformed cartilage and fibrofatty tissue that is reminiscent of the ear lobule. This condition may be seen in isolation but is commonly seen in cases of hemifacial microsomia and Treacher Collins syndrome. Treacher Collins syndrome, or mandibulofacial dysostosis, exhibits a broad phenotypic spectrum and is commonly seen with hypoplasia or absence of the zygoma, coloboma of the lower eyelid, lateral canthal dystopia, absence of the medial lower eyelid lashes, mandibular hypoplasia with a steep occlusal plane, and abnormalities of the external ear, including microtia.
Apert syndrome results from FGFR2 mutations Ser252Trp or Pro253Arg and results in multisuture craniosynostosis, mid-face hypoplasia, complex syndactyly, cystic acne, and other less common findings. It is transmitted as an autosomal dominant condition.
Stickler syndrome is inherited in autosomal dominant and recessive patterns. It results from mutations in collagen genes COL2A1, COL11A1, and COL11A2. This may manifest with ocular abnormalities including early-onset cataracts, vitreous anomalies, retinal detachments, and severe myopia. Patients may have sensorineural hearing loss. Mandibular hypoplasia and Pierre Robin sequence is common in these patients.
Van der Woude syndrome results from a mutation of the IRF6 gene and is a common autosomal dominant condition associated with cleft lip and palate. Patients characteristically exhibit lower lip pits.
Finally, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a congenital capillary-lymphatic-venous malformation of the lower extremity with associated soft tissue and bony overgrowth. This condition is caused by a somatic mutation in the PIK3CA gene and is therefore on the phenotypic spectrum with CLOVES syndrome and other PIK3CA-related overgrowth syndromes (PROS).
A 6-year-old boy presents with a right-sided craniofacial cleft involving the medial third of the upper eyelid with canthal involvement and orbital malposition. Which of the following best represents the Tessier cleft classification for this patient?
a. No. 3
b. No. 5
c. No. 11
d. No. 13
The correct response is Option C.
The number 11 cleft is the cranial extension of the number 3 facial cleft. The cleft originates in the medial orbit and often involves the upper lid as a coloboma or a blepharon. The cleft may also extend into the eyebrow and up to the frontal hairline with a projection of hair extending into the medial third of the forehead.
The number 13 cleft is the paramedial extension of the number 1 facial cleft. The eyelid, eyebrow, and canthal structures are intact in the number 13 cleft, but the medial brow may be displaced inferiorly. There may be V-shaped paramedial projection of the frontal hairline as well as a frontal encephalocele. The skeletal abnormality of the cleft occurs between the nasal bone and the frontal process of the maxilla, causing hypertelorism and widening of the ethmoids, as well as frontal soft tissue and bony abnormalities.
The number 5 cleft begins medial to the lateral oral commissure, proceeding cephalad toward the middle third of the lower eyelid. There is frequently a soft tissue deficiency between the mouth and the lower lid, increasing the risk for corneal exposure. The skeletal defect of the cleft originates in the alveolus, lateral to the canine, and extends through the maxillary sinus to the inferolateral orbit, lateral to the infraorbital foramen.
The number 3 Tessier cleft is often referred to as the oro-naso-ocular cleft. When isolated to the lip, the number 3 cleft can mimic a common cleft lip, beginning at Cupid’s bow peak and extending to the lateral nasal sill. The cleft can extend through the lateral ala to the lower eyelid between the medial canthus and the inferior punctum. A significant soft tissue deficit of the midface may be present with inferior displacement of the lower lid and globe, as well as microphthalmia of the globe. The skeletal defect of the number 3 cleft originates in the alveolus, between the lateral incisor and canine, and extends cephalad to the lateral piriform aperture and medial orbit, terminating in the lacrimal groove of the inferior medial orbit.
Reference(s)
- Goldstein JA, Losee JE. Craniofacial clefts and orbital hypertelorism. In: Chung KC, ed. Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2020:chap 32.
- Losee JE, Kirschner RE. Rare craniofacial defects. In: Losee JE, Kirchner RE, eds. Comprehensive Cleft Care. Vol. 2. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Thieme Medical Publishing; 2016.
A 20-month-old girl is brought to the office for evaluation of mid face hypoplasia, craniosynostosis, and anomalies of the hands and feet. The most likely cause of these findings is a genetic error in which of the following?
A) 22q.11
B) FGFR2
C) IRF6
D) TCOF1
The correct response is Option B.
The patient described has Apert syndrome. This autosomal dominant syndrome is characterized by bicoronal craniosynostosis leading to turribrachycephaly, mid face hypoplasia, and complex hand and foot syndactyly. Patients with Crouzon syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder, typically have craniosynostosis involving the coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures, as well as turribrachycephaly. Other findings include mid face hypoplasia, exorbitism, and proptosis. The extremities are normal. Defects in the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-2 (FGFR2) are found.
22q deletion syndrome, which has several presentations, including DiGeorge syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, and Shprintzen syndrome, is caused by the deletion of a small piece of chromosome 22. The deletion occurs near the middle of the chromosome at a location designated q11.2; i.e., on the long arm of one of the pairs of chromosome 22. Characteristic signs include congenital heart disease, cleft palate, learning disabilities, mild elongation of facial features, and mental illness in the teenage years.
Mutations in the IRF6 gene cause van der Woude syndrome. Van der Woude syndrome is an autosomal dominant form of cleft lip and palate. Affected individuals usually have lip pits.
Mutations in the TCOF1 gene cause Treacher Collins syndrome. The official name of this gene is “Treacher Collins-Franceschetti syndrome 1.” Patients with Treacher Collins syndrome, or mandibular dysostosis, have hypoplasia of the zygoma, maxilla, and mandible, downward slanting of the palpebral fissures, colobomas of the lower eyelids, absence of eyelashes, and auricular defects.
In patients with syndromic craniosynostosis, successful mid facial distraction is most likely to result in which of the following outcomes?
A) Decreased ANB angle
B) Decreased exorbitism
C) Decreased upper airway volume
D) Increased negative overjet
E) Increased SNB angle
The correct response is Option B.
Distraction osteogenesis allows anterior movements of the midface that cannot be achieved with conventional Le Fort III and bone grafting. The advancement obtained with single-stage midfacial advancement is limited by soft-tissue tension to 10 to 12 mm, and bone grafting is required to buttress the advanced segments. These procedures have long operative times and major blood loss, and some reports suggest long-term relapse presumably due to bone graft resorption. In contrast, the gradual soft-tissue creep achieved with distraction allows osseous advancement in excess of 30 mm. In addition, distraction osteogenesis obviates the need for bone grafting and relapse is minimal.
The effect of successful midfacial advancement is a decrease in SNB, an increase in ANB, decrease in negative overjet, and an increase in upper airway volume. The latter change often leads to an improvement in obstructive sleep apnea. Exorbitism is reduced by the increase in orbital volume.

















































