Palatevelum

Palatographs, also referred to as palatevelum, are a rare congenital malformation of the palate characterized by a thickened or fleshy tissue that covers the roof of the mouth. This condition affects the posterior part of the palate and is often unilateral.

Palatevelum is due to an anomalous development in the tissues that form the palate during embryogenesis. The palate is formed from several layers of tissue, which in normal individuals, interdigitate and fuse properly. However, in individuals affected with palatevelum, these tissues fail to properly fuse, resulting in a thickened, fleshy appearance.

Palatevelum is more commonly associated with other syndromes and chromosomal abnormalities such as the cleidocranial dysplasia syndrome and mosaicism involving ring chromosome 20. The presence of palatevelum can be identified during routine antenatal ultrasound or may be noticed postnatally by dental or medical professionals during routine pediatric check-ups.

Depending on its severity, palatevelum may or may not require surgical intervention to correct the deformity and prevent potential complications such as airway obstruction or difficulty feeding. Diagnosing palatevelum can involve various diagnostic tests such as radiographs, cephalometric analysis, or a detailed physical examination.

There is limited long-term follow-up data on individuals with palatevelum, but when left untreated, it is generally not associated with significant morbidity. However, prophylactic surgical intervention is often recommended in infants with palatevelum to prevent potential complications in the future.

Researchers have pointed out that palatevelum should be considered alongside other benign conditions affecting the palate to enhance diagnostic accuracy and make informed decisions regarding treatment options.