Accuracy of Prenatal Ultrasound Scans for Screening Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review

Children born with clefts encounter various postnatal issues which have a negative impact and long-term psychological effects on both the parents and themselves. This systematic review aims to find the accuracy of two-dimensional (2D)/3D scans for screening cleft lip and palate which would help the parents to be mentally and psychologically prepared to plan for future surgeries. To identify relevant literature, an electronic search was performed using PubMed, Trip database, Cochrane, and Google Scholar database. The search yielded 927 articles, of which 10 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review. These studies showed that the combination of 2D and 3D ultrasound scans has increased the specificity and sensitivity in detecting orofacial clefts, as they aid in improved visualization of the fetal face. However, in future, the visualization of the palate can be improved by inventing other modified views as cleft palate diagnosis is more prone to error.