Abstract
Cleft palate can present in varying degrees of severity. Based on the development of the palate, the minimal expression is a posterior cleft. Submucous clefting is well described, and the reason for it is also postulated. However, a congenital hard palate fistula, with a normally developed posterior palate (with its full complement of mesodermal element), is extremely rare and difficult to explain embryologically. We document a case of this nature and review various embryological theories in an attempt to explain this occurrence.
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Jagannathan, M., Nayak, B.B. & Dixit, V. Congenital palatal fistula: an embryological enigma?. Eur J Plast Surg 26, 207–209 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-003-0509-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-003-0509-6