Structural brain abnormalities in adult males with clefts of the lip and/or palate.

Purpose: To evaluate brain morphology of adult males with nonsyndromic clefts of the lip and/or palate (NSCLP) in comparison to a matched healthy control group.

Methods: Brain structure was measured using quantitative analysis of magnetic resonance images.

Results: Subjects with NSCLP had significant abnormalities in brain morphology consisting of abnormally enlarged anterior regions of the cerebrum, and decreased volumes of the posterior cerebrum and cerebellum. Overall, the most severely affected region was the left temporal lobe. Furthermore, these structural abnormalities were directly related to cognitive dysfunction.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the important relationship and interplay between face and brain development.