Classification, epidemiology, and genetics of orofacial clefts

Stephanie E Watkins; Robert E Meyer; Ronald P Strauss; Arthur S Aylsworth

doi:10.1016/j.cps.2013.12.003

Classification, epidemiology, and genetics of orofacial clefts

Clin Plast Surg. 2014 Apr;41(2):149-63. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2013.12.003.

Authors

Stephanie E Watkins¹, Robert E Meyer², Ronald P Strauss³, Arthur S Aylsworth⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1700 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: wat@email.unc.edu.
² Birth Defects Monitoring Program, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, State Center for Health Statistics, 222 North Dawson Street, Cotton Building, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA.
³ UNC Center for AIDS Research, UNC School of Dentistry, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 104 South Building, CB# 3000, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3000, USA.
⁴ Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7487, UNC Campus, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7487, USA.

PMID: 24607185
DOI: 10.1016/j.cps.2013.12.003

Abstract

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) include a broad range of facial conditions that differ in cause and disease burden. In the published literature, there is substantial ambiguity in both terminology and classification of OFCs. This article discusses the terminology and classification of OFCs and the epidemiology of OFCs. Demographic, environmental, and genetic risk factors for OFCs are described, including suggestions for family counseling. This article enables clinicians to counsel families regarding the occurrence and recurrence of OFCs. Although much of the information is detailed, it is intended to be accessible to all health professionals for use in their clinical practices.

Keywords: Classification; Epidemiology; Genetics; Orofacial clefts.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Abnormalities, Multiple / epidemiology
Cleft Lip / classification*
Cleft Lip / epidemiology*
Cleft Lip / genetics*
Cleft Palate / classification*
Cleft Palate / epidemiology*
Cleft Palate / genetics*
Counseling
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Medical History Taking
Physical Examination
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Terminology as Topic