Overview of Craniofacial Anomalies
What are craniofacial anomalies?
Craniofacial anomalies (CFA) are a diverse group of deformities in the growth of the
head and facial bones. Anomaly is a medical term meaning "irregularity" or "different
from normal." These abnormalities are congenital (present at birth) and there are
numerous variations. Some are mild and some are severe and need surgery.
What causes craniofacial anomalies?
Most medical professionals agree that there is no single factor that causes these
types of abnormalities. Instead, there are many factors that may contribute to their
development, including the following:
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Combination of genes. A child may receive a particular combination of gene(s) from one or both parents.
Or, there may be a change in the genes at the time of conception. This results in
a craniofacial anomaly.
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Environmental. The effect of environmental exposures on the development of craniofacial abnormalities
is not fully understood. However, environmental exposures may play a role, especially
in combination with genetic abnormalities.
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Folic acid deficiency. Folic acid is a B vitamin found in orange juice, fortified breakfast cereals, enriched
grain products, and green, leafy vegetables. Studies have shown that women who do
not take sufficient folic acid during pregnancy, or have a diet lacking in folic acid,
may have a higher risk of having a baby with certain congenital anomalies. These include
cleft lip and/or cleft palate.
What are the most common types of craniofacial anomalies?
Some of the most common types of craniofacial anomalies include the following:
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Cleft lip and/or cleft palate. A separation that happens in the lip or the palate (roof of the mouth), or both. Cleft
lip and cleft palate are the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies seen at
birth.
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Cleft lip. An abnormality in which the lip does not completely form. The degree of the cleft
lip can vary greatly, from mild (notching of the lip) to severe (large opening from
the lip up through the nose).
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Cleft palate. Happens when the roof of the mouth does not completely close, leaving an opening that
can extend into the nasal cavity. The cleft may involve either side of the palate.
It can extend from the front of the mouth (hard palate) to the throat (soft palate).
The cleft may also include the lip.
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Craniosynostosis. A condition in which the sutures (soft spots) in the skull of an infant close too
early. This causes problems with normal brain and skull growth. Premature closure
of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the
skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance.
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Hemifacial microsomia. A condition in which the tissues on one side of the face are underdeveloped. This
mostly affects the ear (aural), mouth (oral), and jaw (mandibular) areas. Sometimes,
both sides of the face can be affected and may involve the skull and the face. Hemifacial
microsomia is also known as Goldenhar syndrome, brachial arch syndrome, facio-auriculo-vertebral
syndrome, oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum, or lateral facial dysplasia.
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Vascular malformation. A birthmark or growth, present at birth, that is composed of blood vessels. It can
cause functional or aesthetic problems. Vascular malformations may involve multiple
body systems. There are several different types of malformations and they are named
according to which type of blood vessel is mostly affected. Vascular malformations
are also known as lymphangiomas, arteriovenous malformations, and vascular gigantism.
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Hemangioma. A hemangiomas is an abnormally growing blood vessel in the skin that may be present
at birth (faint red mark) or appear in the first months after birth. A hemangioma
is also known as a port wine stain, strawberry hemangioma, and salmon patch.
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Deformational (or positional) plagiocephaly. A misshapen (asymmetrical) shape of the head from repeated pressure to the same area
of the head. Plagiocephaly literally means "oblique head" (from the Greek "plagio"
for oblique and "cephale" for head).