Viewing of the soft and the hard palate on routine 3-D ultrasound sweep of the fetal face--a feasibility study.

Objectives: To report a technique to view the fetal soft and hard palates, utilizing acquired routine 3-D volumes of the fetal face.
Method: The axial, sagittal and coronal planes in acquired volumes of 3-D surface rendering of 5 normal fetal faces obtained at 19, 21, 23, 26 and 28 weeks, respectively, were reviewed by focusing on the uvula.
Results: The surfaces of the soft and the hard palate could be viewed in oblique axial, oblique sagittal and targeted coronal planes in all fetuses.
Conclusion: Rotating or tilting of the axial, sagittal and coronal planes of the fetal head allows the visualization of the various aspects of the soft and hard palates, with the uvula as a useful landmark.
((c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)