Abnormal brain morphology in patients with isolated cleft lip, cleft palate, or both: A preliminary analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether adult men with cl eft lip and palate (CLP) have aberrant cerebral morphology, Design: Brain morphology of 14 adult men with isolated CLP were analyzed an d compared with 14 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and parental soci oeconomic status. Setting: The research took place at a large, tertiary care hospital, with p articipation on an outpatient basis, Participants: The 14 males with CLP were recruited from a large cleft lip a nd palate registry, while their 14 matched controls were selected from a re gistry of healthy volunteers collected via the Mental Health Clinical Resea rch Center. Results: The males with CLP have significantly smaller cerebellar size (p = .04), significantly larger frontal lobes (p = .02), and significantly smal ler temporal and occipital lobes (p = .02; p = .009, respectively). No sign ificant difference in gray/white matter ratios or laterality were found. Conclusions: Adult males with CLP have a significantly different pattern of brain morphology, compared with healthy controls, which is most likely due to aberrant cerebral development. This study highlights the complex intera ction and interdependence of craniofacial and cerebral development.