aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

The majority of cases are idiopathic. However, there are a number of important associations including:

  • trisomies 13 and 18
  • Kallman's syndrome
  • holoprosencephaly
  • maternal drugs in pregnancy - in particular phenytoin
  • Pierre-Robin sequence
  • Goldenhar syndrome
  • EEC syndrome
  • there is an inherited element which is polygenic

Isolated cleft palate is commoner in females. However cleft palate associated with cleft lip is commoner in males.