Surgical Correction of a Median Cleft of the Upper Lip Associated with Enlarged Frenulum and Palatal Masses.

Hahn, Hyung Min; Kim, Ji Ye; Min, Hee Joon; Kim, Sug Won

Search: J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg Search

CLOSE

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2011;38(4):485-489.
Published online July 1, 2011.

Surgical Correction of a Median Cleft of the Upper Lip Associated with Enlarged Frenulum and Palatal Masses.

Hyung Min Hahn, Ji Ye Kim, Hee Joon Min, Sug Won Kim

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea. sugwonkim@yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Median cleft of upper lip is defined as any congenital vertical cleft through the midline of the upper lip. It is uncommon, its embryological pathogenesis remains unexplained to date. The authors hereby report a rare case of median cleft of the upper lip associated with enlarged frenulum and palatal mass. This case offers some understanding of the possible embryologic development of this anomaly. METHODS: A 10-month-old boy born by normal vaginal delivery at full-term had a notch in the midline of the upper lip with widened philtrum along with enlarged median frenulum, alveolar cleft, and mass of the hard palate. We performed en bloc resection of the enlarged frenulum and palatal mass and cheiloplasty under general anesthesia.
RESULTS
Histological examination revealed that the frenulum and palatal mass was consisted of fibrous tissue with normal mucous membrane. The postoperative course was satisfactory.
CONCLUSION
A rare case of median cleft of the upper lip with associated enlarged frenulum and palatal mass was presented with proper surgical management. The surgical technique includes marginal excision of the clefted epithelium and reconstruction of orbicularis oris muscle, in addition to en bloc resection of the palatal mass and frenulotomy.

Keywords: Median cleft of upper lip; Craniofacial cleft; Upper lip; Palatal mass; Enlarged frenulum

TOOLS