Cleft Lip vs. Lip Notch

Left picture: The diagnosis is a completely developed cleft lip. Right picture: The diagnosis is a lip notch, corresponding to a slight form of cleft lip. The described indentation and scar corresponds to a cleft in which not all tissue layers of a cleft lip are completely involved, the effects of which are much more significant than it is recognizable at first sight.

It is certain that a cleft lip is present in one of the infants. However, for the other infant, such a diagnosis would raise legitimate doubts. Left picture: The cleft concerns the whole upper lip. Right picture: On looking closely and in comparison with the contralateral picture, identical findings are visible, although of different severity. For example, there is a right-left asymmetry of the midface concernig the thickness of the lip red, the contours of the soft tissue of the upper lip, and the shape of the nasal wings. In addition, a fine indentation and scar is visible leading from the lip notch to the nostril.