Micrognathia

Description

Reduction in size of all or one part of the mandible. The mandible forms from two different ossification centres that appear at about 6 weeks gestation, with growth over a framework provided by Meckel’s cartilage. Micrognathia is believed to result from hypoplasia of the ectomesenchyme in the first branchial arch. Micrognathia is rarely seen as an isolated anomaly, and is more frequently part of a multiple anomaly syndrome. More than 300 syndromes and karyotypic abnormalities have been described in association with micrognathia. Mandibular hypoplasia may induce a cascade of effects, with resultant posterior positioning of the tongue leading to impaired closure of the posterior palatal shelves and subsequent clefting, as seen in the Pierre Robin sequence. There may also be a small tongue.

Diagnosis

Until recently, micrognathia was diagnosed by the subjective impression of a small jaw seen on examination of the fetal facial profile. Hence subtle degrees of this disorder were easily missed and diagnosis often delayed until the late 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Nomograms with centile charts of measurements of the fetal mandible now allow greater objectivity in the prenatal diagnosis of this craniofacial abnormality. Measurement of the fetal mandible in the 2nd trimester can be accomplished if the orbits are first identified in transverse section with angling of the transducer caudad to identify the temporomandibular joint. On rotation of the transducer the maximal length of the mandible can be recognised and measured to the symphysis menti. Reliability of this measurement is diminished in the 3rd trimester, often due to technical difficulties arising from fetal crowding, descent of cephalic pole into the pelvis, and acoustic shadowing from adjacent bony structures. Prevalence of antenatally diagnosed micrognathia in the low risk population remains unknown, although in the neonate frequency is said to approach 1%. In referred populations investigated for suspected abnormalities, micrognathia was the most frequently confirmed craniofacial anomaly and was associated with chromosomal abnormality in 38% to 66% of fetuses. Skeletal dysplasias are frequently recognised concurrent abnormalities; some syndromes may include abnormalities of other systems, VSD, splenic, gonadal, lung defects.

Differential Diagnosis

Agnathia, or complete absence of the lower jaw. Micrognathia should be distinguished from retrognathia, where the lower jaw is positioned more posterior in relation to the cranial base.

Sonographic Features

Small lower jaw as measured in the transverse plane; may also be appreciated in the sagittal plane

Associated Syndromes

  • Accutane
  • Amyoplasia congenita
  • Aniridia-Wilms tumor
  • Campomelic dysplasia
  • Cat eye
  • Cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal
  • De Lange
  • Deletion 13q
  • Deletion 4p
  • Dubowitz
  • Escobar
  • Hemifacial microsomia
  • Hurler-Scheie
  • Lethal multiple pterygium
  • Meckel-Gruber
  • Miller
  • Miller-Dieker
  • Mobius
  • Nager
  • Pallister-Hall
  • Robin
  • Stickler
  • Treacher-Collins
  • Trisomy 14 mosaicism
  • Trisomy 8
  • Trisomy 9
  • Zellweger

References

Sherer DM, Metlay LA, Woods JR Lack of mandibular movement manifested by absent fetal swallowing: a possible factor in the pathogenesis of micrognathia Am J Perinatol 12: 30-33
Lambert I, Kemp J, Jackson J, Joyce H, Mann S, Kan A, Smith A Prenatal diagnosis and post-mortem study of a fetus with mosaic trisomy 14 due to a dic (14)(P11) Prenat Diagn 14: 507-510
Watson WJ, Katz VL Sonographic measurement of the fetal mandible: standards for normal pregnancy Am J Perinatol 10: 226-8
Nicolaides KH, Salvesen DR, Snijders RJM, Gosden CM Fetal facial defects: associated malformations and chromosomal abnormalities Fetal Diagn Ther 8:1-9
Turner GM, Twining P The facial profile in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities Clin Radiol 47:389-395
Chitty LS, Campbell S, Altman DG Measurement of the fetal mandible – feasibility and construction of a centile chart Prenat Diagn 13:749-756
Escobar LF Micrognathia In: Human malformations and related anomalies. Stevenson RE, Hall JG, Goodman RM, eds. Oxford University Press: Oxford, p647-9
Nicolaides KH, Snijders RJM, Gosden CM, Berry C, Campbell S Ultrasonographically detectable markers of fetal chromosomal abnormalities Lancet 340:704-705
Otto C, Platt LD The fetal mandible measurement: an objective determination of fetal jaw size Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1: 12-17
Malinger G, Rosen N, Achiron R, Zakut H Pierre Robin sequence associated with amniotic band syndrome: ultrasonographic diagnosis and pathogenesis Prenat Diagn 7:455-459