Cyclopia is a rare foetal malformation characterized by a single palpebral
fissure and a proboscis associated with severe brain malformation, Approxim
ately 1.05 in 100 000 births including stillbirths are identified as cyclop
ian, Cyclopia is not compatible with Life. The authors present an anatomica
l and histological study of the fronto-orbito-maxillary region carried out
after 3-D CT reconstruction in a 21 week-old foetus with cyclopia, Anatomic
al and histological observations suggest that the integrity of the trigemin
al nerves is very important for the normal development of the embryological
structures of the face, Fusion of the facial processes in the midline take
s place even if central prosencephalic structures are absent. For this reas
on the face in cyclopia, in both its positive and negative aspects, constit
utes a model for the study of the normal development of this region. (C) 20
01 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.