Technique of early sonographic diagnosis of bilateral cleft lip and palate.

High-resolution real-time ultrasound equipment will lead to the evolution of techniques for the prenatal diagnosis of subtle fetal anomalies not seen before. A technique for the diagnosis of bilateral cleft lip and palate before 20 weeks' gestation with real-time ultrasound equipment is described and illustrated. Examination of the fetal face in the frontal and coronal planes should allow the diagnosis of severe clefting at an early gestational age.