Craniofacial and oral manifestations of fetal alcohol syndrome

Six representative patients with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) were studied for craniofacial and oral anomalies, dental development, and long-term bodily growth patterns. The craniofacial features observed were reduction of total head size, increased head-body ratio, the existence of upper and middle craniofacial asymmetry and telecanthus in some instances, and the features of a long face syndrome with a large gonial angle. Dental development was mildly to moderately delayed, and enamel anomalies were present. Analysis of growth patterns demonstrated compensatory growth in stature, weight, or head circumference and a delayed bone age in some instances. It is suggested that the semiquantitative score system for fetal alcohol syndrome study may fail to diagnose individual cases and that craniofacial features are more important in diagnosis than seems to have been appreciated in the past.