Evaluation of the Presence of Foramen Tympanicum in Patients with Cleft lip and Palate Using CBCT

Aim: Persistent foramen of Huschke (PFH), defined as open foramen tympanicum, is associated with some pathological disorders in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The present investigation evaluated the incidence and dimensions of PFH in cleft lip and palate (CL/P) patients. Methods: We assessed the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs of 311 patients, 50 of whom were diagnosed with CL/P. Then, we used the reformatted images to assess the prevalence and dimensions of PFH. In the end, using SPSS, we tried to clarify the possible relationship between CL/P and PFH. Results: In the case group, 18 individuals (36%) and in the control group, 61 individuals (23%) were diagnosed with PFH. No correlation was found between the side or laterality of CL/P and that of PFH. Also, no relationship was established between the severity of CL/P and the presence or magnitude of PFH. Despite the higher prevalence of PFH in the case group compared to the control group, the differences were not significant. In addition, axial diameters were significantly higher in the case group (2.15 mm in the case group and 1.82 mm in the control group; P=0.048). Conclusion: The prevalence of PFH in individuals with CL/P did not exceed that of the general population.