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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Examining Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Structures in Premature Infants: A Window Into the Womb
Evy I Loomis-Goltl1, Samantha J Power2, Ilana Neuberger2,3
1Division of Communication Disorders, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
Insights
Premature infants under 40 weeks gestation show smaller linear craniofacial and velopharyngeal dimensions. However, key angles of the levator veli palatini muscle and facial structure remain similar, aiding in potential in utero diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial development
- Pediatric imaging
- Speech anatomy
Background:
- Limited understanding of in utero velopharyngeal and levator veli palatini muscle development.
- Importance of these structures for speech and feeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions in premature infants before 40 weeks gestation.
- To establish normative data for early development.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, descriptive study design.
- Analysis of MRI scans from 6 infants under 40 weeks gestation.
- Measurement of craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions.
Main Results:
- Consistently shorter linear measures across all analyzed dimensions.
- Less favorable effective velopharyngeal ratio for speech.
- Relatively unchanged angle measures (LVP angle of origin, NSB, SNA, SNB).
Conclusions:
- Linear craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini variables are smaller in preterm infants compared to those at 6 months.
- Angulation of these structures is similar to later developmental stages.
- Findings may inform future in utero diagnosis of craniofacial conditions.
Background:
Very little is known about how the velopharynx and levator veli palatini muscle develop in utero. The purpose of this study was to describe craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions in a group of infants born prematurely and imaged before 40 weeks gestation.
Methods:
A retrospective, descriptive study design was utilized to examine the MRI scans of 6 infants less than 40 weeks' gestation. Imaging was initially completed for medically necessity and pulled from patients' charts retrospectively for the purpose of this study. Craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions were analyzed.
Results:
All linear measures were consistently shorter across all variable categories. While effective VP ratio was less favorable for speech in infants under 40 weeks' gestation, angle measures such as LVP angle of origin, NSB angle, SNA angle, and SNB angle were relatively unchanged.
Conclusions:
Linear craniofacial, VP, and LVP variables tend to be smaller in infants under 40 weeks' gestation than those reported within the first 6 months of life while angulation is relatively similar. Future research in this area may be relevant to better diagnosis of craniofacial conditions in utero.
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