A cephalometric assessment of children with fetal alcohol syndrome

New perspectives on the face in fetal alcohol syndrome: What anthropometry tells us

“…Facial depth measurements show there are deficits in the upper, middle, and lower face, with the midface being the most severely affected. This finding also partially supports clinical reports of a hypoplastic midface [Korányi et al, 1981; Frias et al, 1982; Vitéz et al, 1984; Clarren et al, 1987; Gir et al, 1989; Jackson and Hussain, 1990; Astley et al, 1992; Astley and Clarren, 1995]. In their cephalometric studies, Frias et al [1982] and Gir et al [1989] both found that true midfacial hypoplasia could not be demonstrated.…”

“…This finding also partially supports clinical reports of a hypoplastic midface [Korányi et al, 1981; Frias et al, 1982; Vitéz et al, 1984; Clarren et al, 1987; Gir et al, 1989; Jackson and Hussain, 1990; Astley et al, 1992; Astley and Clarren, 1995]. In their cephalometric studies, Frias et al [1982] and Gir et al [1989] both found that true midfacial hypoplasia could not be demonstrated. Instead, Frias et al [1982] suggested that an abnormal positioning of the maxilla due to restricted forward growth of the face, which in turn was due to abnormal brain growth and shortening of the anterior cranial base, gave the appearance of midface hypoplasia.…”

“…The small head measurements support clinical findings that FAS individuals have microcephaly, and the near‐normal measurement for minimal frontal may suggest that while there is depressed head growth, frontal bossing may expand the frontal bone, allowing for near‐normal measurements of minimal frontal breadth. Frontal bossing was reported by Gir et al [1989] in their cephalometric study of FAS children.…”

“…Instead, Frias et al [1982] suggested that an abnormal positioning of the maxilla due to restricted forward growth of the face, which in turn was due to abnormal brain growth and shortening of the anterior cranial base, gave the appearance of midface hypoplasia. In contrast, Gir et al [1989] suggested overdevelopment of the upper third of the face (frontal bossing) and lower third of the face (elongated mandibular corpus) produced the impression of a small midface, especially in the presence of short palpebral fissures, thin upper lip, and indistinct philtrum. The anthropometric data appear to support both hypotheses.…”

Alteration of the sialylation pattern of the murine tooth germ after ethanol exposure

“…Furthermore, ethanol is likely to affect the maturation of neural structures (Noronha and Druse, 1982;Gnaedinger and Druse, 1984). Gestational exposure to ethanol is associated with various physical alterations, such as a dysfunctional central nervous system, growth impairment, and a number of facial anomalies known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) (Jones et al, 1973;Gir et al, 1989). Clinical dentofacial analyses showed reduced tooth size and poor enamel development in children with FAS (Clarren and Smith, 1978).…”