HISTOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF FACIAL MORPHOGENESIS IN MOEBIUS SYNDROME

Abstract

Moebius Syndrome represents a congenital malformation that affects the facial and oculomotor cranial nerves. The growing severity of the clinical manifestations of the disease with age and the fact that its cause is not yet known prompted us to do this study. The materials used consisted of histologic material from two abortion products and of three pediatric patients suffering of this disease. Methods used comprised of usual stains for connective tissue and MRI scans. The results show reticular organization and incomplete insertions as specific histological markers, which cannot be noticed radiologically. Current studies paint a new picture of the architectonics of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system with specific regional particularities. The histologic study of SMAS needs to be corelated with clinical data obtained from patients and continued with larger, statistically significant cohorts.

Keywords

• smas morphogenesis
• developmental histopathology
• denervational facial malformations
• dental malformations