Craniofacial manifestations in the Marfan syndrome: Palatal dimensions anda comparative cephalometric analysis

The purpose of this study was to determine how the craniofacial morphology, evaluated from dental casts and lateral cephalograms, in individuals affec ted by the Marfan syndrome diverge from healthy control groups. The high an d narrow palatal vault as well as maxillary and mandibular retrognathy were strongly correlated to the syndrome. About 70% of the Marfan syndrome pati ents (n=76) had been referred for orthodontic treatment, mostly because of crowded teeth or extreme maxillary overjet. In 36%, the orthodontic treatme nt was carried out before diagnosis or suspicion about the Marfan syndrome. In comparison to healthy orthodontic patients (n=86), selected because of presence of high and narrow palatal vaults, crowding of teeth, extreme maxi llary overjet, and open bite were much more prevalent in the Marfan syndrom e patients than in the orthodontic control group.