Persistent buccopharyngeal membrane with cleft palate. A case report.

A case of persistent buccopharyngeal membrane associated with cleft palate is reported. Persistence of the buccopharyngeal membrane results in partial fusion of the jaws and inability in opening and should be labeled as partial syngnathia. An association of this condition with cleft palate occurs as a part of the aglossia-adactylia and the popliteal pterygium syndromes. Though infrequently reported in the literature, presence of a persistent buccopharyngeal membrane associated with only cleft palate, without the other characteristics of the syndromes, does occur and should be recognized as a separate developmental defect.