Abnormal maxillary trapezoid pattern in human fetal cleft lip and palate.

Objective: To elucidate abnormal growth patterns of human fetal maxillae with cleft lip and palate (CLP).

Subject: A total of 71 fetal maxillae with CLP were obtained from aborted human fetuses.

Method: Dimensions of the maxillary trapezoid (MT), formed by the maxillary primary growth centers (MxPGC), were taken from radiographic images.