Oral adhesions associated with cleft lip and palate and lip fistulae

Three cases of congenital strand-like adhesions between the upper and lower gum pads associated with cleft lip and palate and lower lip fistulae are reported. A consideration of the literature would suggest that this may represent an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance and expressivity though a positive family history was found in only one case. The adhesions may have arisen by persistence of the oropharyngeal membrane or anomalous fusion of adjacent epithelial surfaces, the latter seeming rather more likely in the present series. The clinical implications are discussed.