[Cleft lip and palate--risk factors, prenatal diagnosis, and health consequences].

Cleft lip and/or palate is a diverse and important group of congenital malformations. The incidence is estimated at 1 in 600-1000 births worldwide. In Poland, there are 2-3 cases noted per 1000 live births. The process of the formation of a correctly developed lip and palate can be impaired by a variety of factors, including the extremely important role of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, medication use, and exposure to certain chemicals). This study focuses on environmental risk factors, prenatal diagnosis, and health consequences of cleft lip and palate.