Developmental oronasal fistula of the incisive papilla

Various terms (including patent nasopalatine fistula and patent nasopalatine duct) have been used to describe the presence of a developmental fistulous tract that connects the oral and nasal cavities through an oral opening located at the incisive papilla. Reportedly, this condition is a rare developmental variant; approximately 40 cases have been reported in the literature. Because awareness of this entity is important to avoid misdiagnosis, this article presents the clinical and conebeam computed tomography findings of two cases. Based on a review of the development of the nasopalatine structures in man, the authors propose that this entity be classified as a developmental oronasal fistula of the incisive papilla.