[Prenatal cleft palate diagnostics by structural and functional peculiarities of the tongue].

The aim of the study was to assess tongue position and function in cleft lip and palate children in order to use them for ultrasound prenatal diagnostics of this malformation. The study included 258 cleft lip and palate patients, as well as 2078 pregnant women (20-22 gestation weeks). The ultrasound scans of 39 cleft palate fetuses were evaluated retrospectively. All cleft palate patients exhibited tongue configuration disorder, tongue asymmetry, low tip and high dorsum position. These signs may be useful for prenatal cleft palate diagnostics which fact is proved by assessment of ultrasound pictures of cleft palate pictures including that of 8 patients revealed prospectively.