According to the American Cleft Palate—Craniofacial Association, cleft lip and cleft palate comprise the most common birth defect in the United States. One of every 600 newborns is affected by cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital defects, or birth defects, which occur very early in pregnancy. Clefts can run in families (genetic) or be a sporadic occurrence. The majority of clefts appear to be due to a combination of both genetics and environmental factors.

Looking at the lips and nose is an important part of any routine obstetric ultrasound.  The abnormality can be found with great accuracy, if the lips and nose are well visualized.  Surgical treatments of oral clefts are amazingly effective and generally have excellent results.  Prenatal detection of this birth defect helps parents prepare for the sometimes shocking appearance of a cleft lip and/or palate. By detecting this birth defect during pregnancy, parents can coordinate with craniofacial and oral surgeons prior to birth to know what to expect regarding surgeries or feeding complications. 

The 3-D image above clearly shows a cleft lip. PCI sonographers and physicians are highly experienced with performing ultrasounds to detect and monitor cleft lips and palates.