Prenatal diagnosis of hemifacial microsomia by magnetic resonance imaging

Fetal Head and Neck Imaging

Prenatal MRI plays an essential role in the evaluation of the head and neck. This article overviews technical considerations and both isolated and syndromic anomalies of the fetal calvarium, globes and orbits, ears, maxilla, mandible, and neck.

Oculoauriculovertebral spectrum with a full range of severe clinical manifestations--case report

Oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS) is a rare congenital malformation consisting of epibulbar dermoids, lid colobomas, auricular deformities, hypoplasia of the soft and bony tissues of the face, associated oral deformities and vertebral anomalies. This report presents a child with a choroid of the right eye, coloboma of the upper eyelid, epibulbar dermoid of the left eye, mandibular hypoplasia, facial asymmetry, bilateral complete cleft lip and palate, hypoplasia of the left alar cartilage, appendage of the left nose, butterfly vertebral defects of Th-1, Th-2 and abnormality of rib XI. Widened sulci of frontal and parietal lobes, bilateral white matter density decrease and calcifications of falx cerebelli were noted. Axial hypotony and delayed psycho-motor development were apparent. This rare case presents a range of severe clinical manifestations of oculoauriculovertebral spectrum. Despite a normal cervical vertebral column, tracheostenosis was present. It caused difficulties in tracheal intubation, creating the need for a tracheostomy, and death after a failed attempt at decannulation. This case indicates that in patients with clinical manifestations including cerebral anomalies, a risk of respiratory insufficiency should be always taken under consideration, when planning surgery.

Prenatal evaluation of the middle ear and diagnosis of middle ear hypoplasia using MRI

BACKGROUND

Analysis of the middle ear with fetal MRI has not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE

To show the contribution of fetal MRI to middle ear imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The tympanic cavity was evaluated in 108 fetal cerebral MRI examinations (facial and/or cerebral malformation excluded) and in two cases, one of Treacher Collins syndrome (case 1) and the other of oculo-auriculo-vertebral (OUV) spectrum (case 2) with middle ear hypoplasia identified by MRI at 27 and 36 weeks' gestation, respectively.

RESULTS

In all 108 fetuses (mean gestational age 32.5 weeks), the tympanic cavity and T2 hypointensity related to the ossicles were well visualised on both sides. Case 1 had micro/retrognathia and bilateral external ear deformity and case 2 had retrognathism with a left low-set and deformed ear. MRI made it possible to recognize the marked hypoplasia of the tympanic cavity, which was bilateral in case 1 and unilateral in case 2. Both syndromes are characterized by craniofacial abnormalities including middle ear hypoplasia, which cannot be diagnosed with US.

CONCLUSION

The middle ear cavity can be visualized with fetal MRI. We emphasize the use of this imaging modality in the diagnosis of middle ear hypoplasia.

Humoral immune deficiency and hemifacial microsomia seen in one family

We present a patient with hemifacial microsomia and immune deficiency. The patient is a 5-year-old with grade III microtia and Pruzansky type I right mandibular hypoplasia. She developed 25 pulmonary infections in 3 years, required hospitalization every 6 weeks to receive antibiotics, and experienced recurrent herpes stomatitis and esophagitis, staphylococcal bacteremia, urinary tract, sinus, and ear infections. She had low total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgA, and anti-pneumococcal antibody levels. She was unable to maintain protective pneumococcal titers following vaccination. The patient's 7-year-old sister also suffered from recurrent infections, had a left facial skin tag, and a left arachnoid cyst. We conclude that immune deficiency can occur in association with hemifacial microsomia.

Aplasia of the mandibular condyle

A rare case of aplasia of the mandibular condyle is presented along with the tomographic findings. A 31-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a main complaint of facial asymmetry. No family history or any trauma was found. A CT study was performed and the sagittal CT view demonstrated a complete absence of the left condyle. This case of unknown aetiology was thoroughly examined and, based on clinical findings, we suggest that it could be of developmental origin.

Antenatal presentation of the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS)

We describe a fetus with abnormal ultrasound (US) imaging at 20 weeks showing hydrocephalus and radial aplasia. Post-mortem examination followed pregnancy termination and confirmed the diagnosis of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS). To delineate the pattern of prenatal features in OAVS, we reviewed 20 published fetuses showing abnormal US and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Gestational age at diagnosis ranged from 14 to 34-35 weeks. Cephalic abnormalities were found in only 52.4% (i.e., micro/anophthalmia, ear anomalies, hemifacial microsomia, and facial cleft). CNS defects occurred in 47.6% (i.e., hydrocephalus, occipital encephalocele, cerebellar hemisphere/vermis hypoplasia, and lipoma of the corpus callosum), together with abnormal amniotic fluid volume (AFV), either poly- or oligohydramnios. Nineteen percent had congenital heart disease, mainly atrioventricular septal defect. Hydroureteronephrosis, radial aplasia, lung, and kidney agenesis were additional findings. Recurrent patterns of anomalies included multiple asymmetric facial lesions (i.e., hemifacial microsomia, ipsilateral micro/anophthalmia, malformed ear) and CNS (particularly hydrocephalus) plus AFV abnormalities. In addition, prognosis of prenatally detected OAVS patients resulted more severe than generally observed in this condition.