Background: Patients with cleft lip/palate may have other associated malformations but the reported prevalence and type of associated malformations varied between different studies.
Objective: To report the prevalence and the type of associated malformations in Northeastern Thai patients with cleft lip/palate.
Material and Method: A retrospective study of 123 cleft lip/palate patients aged 4-5 years was carried out at the Tawanchai Cleft Center, Khon Kaen University during the period from October to December 2011. Data were collected by reviewing the patient’s medical records.
Results: Seventeen (14%) of the 123 patients had associated malformations. Four (21%) of the 19 patients with cleft palate,
eleven (15%) of the 74 patients with clefts lip and palate, and two (7%) of the 30 patients with cleft lip had associated
malformations. The organ systems affected by associated malformations were cardiovascular system (41%), craniofacial
anomaly (23%), skeletal system (12%), urogenital system (12%) and central nervous system (12%). Atrial septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot were most common associated cardiovascular malformation found.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of associated malformations found in patients with cleft lip/palate emphasizes the need for
a thorough screening of associated malformations and congenital heart disease of all cleft lip/palate patients.

Keywords: Cleft lip, Cleft palate, Associated malformations, Congenital heart disease