Diagnosis of palatal defects by trispiral tomography: a pilot study

A pilot study is presented in which 12 selected patients, ages 3-11 years, were evaluated for a palatal defect utilizing trispiral tomography. Each patient, because of speech and hearing abnormalities, was evaluated by a speech pathologist and an otolaryngolgist and voice recordings, audiometry, tympanometry and plain and cine radiographic X-rays were obtained. Those children with speech and hearing abnormalities in whom the question of a palatal defect was raised underwent trispiral palatal tomography. Nine of the 12 patients selected for tomography demonstrated a palatal defect that was not detected by other means. Trispiral tomography appears to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of suspected palatal defects in selected patients.