TRANSVERSE FACIAL MORPHOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH DIASTROPHIC DYSPLASIA

Diastrophic dysplasia (DTD) is a well-characterized, recessively inher ited osteochondrodysplasia. Thirty-seven patients were studied for tra nsverse craniofacial characteristics. Of these patients, 10 had cleft palate and 11 had submucous cleft palate. A cephalometric analysis bas ed on posteroanterior (PA) cephalograms was performed: 16 landmarks we re identified and digitized into a computer. Seven linear and four ang ular variables were calculated and the values compared with those of a matched control population. DTD patients differed from controls only in cases with cleft palate where the mesio-orbital, bigonial, and ante gonial widths were large compared with controls. The present findings indicate that although the development and growth of cartilaginous str uctures are disturbed in DTD, the intramembranously developing bones a nd the appositional growth pattern do not seem to be primarily affecte d.