Congenital anomalies associated with cleft lip and palate-an analysis of 1623 consecutive patients.

Objective: To document the frequency and nature of associated anomalies in cleft lip and/or palate patients from a craniofacial center in India.

Setting: Craniofacial Surgery & Research Centre, SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad, India.

Patients/participants: A total of 1623 consecutive patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate treated in a 40-month period.

Main Outcome Measure: Frequency and nature of associated anomalies, analyzed according to the cleft type and principal organ system and/or area affected.

Results: The overall male to female ratio was 1.8∶1. Unilateral cleft lip with cleft palate (41%) was the most frequent cleft subtype, followed by cleft lip and/or cleft alveolus (33%); isolated submucous cleft palate (1%) was the least frequent. A total of 240 (14.8%) patients had associated anomalies, and these were more frequent in males (M∶F  =  1.4∶1). Per patient, anomalies were most frequent in the submucous cleft group (mean, 0.53) and least common in the cleft lip with or without cleft alveolus (mean, 0.14). Anomalies were most frequent in the facial region (21%), followed by the ocular (17%), central nervous (15%), gastrointestinal (3%), and urogenital (2%) systems. Thirty-four patients (2%) had recognized nonchromosomal syndromes; this was more common in the cleft palate group.

Conclusions: Associated anomalies are not uncommon in patients with cleft lip and/or palate, though the frequency varies with the cleft type and organ system affected.