Imaging of cartilage and mimic muscles with MRI: anatomic study in healthy volunteers and patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to visualize different soft tissues in the perioral, nasal, and paranasal region by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).
DESIGN: In this descriptive study, images of different MRI systems were assessed and compared.
METHOD: MRI was applied in five consecutive patients operated on for UCLP who underwent secondary lip and nasal correction, two patients who had not had UCLP operations, and five healthy volunteers as controls. The mimic muscles, vessels, and nasal cartilages were evaluated.
RESULTS: It was possible to visualize different parts of the paranasal and perioral mimic muscles and their interlacement in the upper lip. The nasal cartilages were also visible, and the changes after operation were demonstrated.
CONCLUSIONS: MRI shows differentiated visualization of soft tissues in the cleft region and their changes after surgery. It is a valuable tool in the preoperative planning and postoperative follow-up in patients with UCLP.