About Bifid Uvula Images:
Bifid uvula images are the most common type of uveal neoplasms. They occur when cells from the lining of the mouth (the mucosa) grow into other parts of the eye (the retina). These abnormal cells produce fluid that fills up small spaces inside the eye causing them to appear larger than they really are. The growths may be benign or malignant, but both types cause vision problems.
The condition is called bifid uvula because it resembles a tiny vase with many holes. The uveal epithelium (eye tissue) that forms these lesions looks like a bifid wall. When the normal cells become cancerous, they form large masses that look like little vases filled with water. The problem occurs when the abnormal cells multiply rapidly and invade nearby tissues such as the brain, heart, lungs or bones.
Uveal neoplasia is one of the most common causes of blindness in children. The disease affects approximately 1 out of every 10,000 live births worldwide. The risk increases with age, but remains low among those under 5 years old. Most cases develop between ages 15 and 30 years, although some develop at any time during childhood. There are no known effective treatments for the disease.
What Are The Different Types Of Bifid Uvula?
Vascular tumors are the most common type of bifid uvula. They are usually not cancerous, but they have a high rate of recurrence after treatment. In adults, these tumors most commonly occur in the retina, a light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that detects light and converts it into nerve signals sent to the brain. These tumors can grow and press on the macula, the portion of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. The condition may cause vision loss if not treated.
Fibrous dysplasia is an uncommon type of benign tumor that can occur throughout the body. In the eye, they appear as yellowish-white masses behind the iris. They are most common among patients between 5 and 30 years old and can recur following treatment.
Retinoblastoma are the most dangerous bifid uvula types. They commonly occur in both eyes at the same time, causing an invasive and often fatal condition. Retinoblastoma tumors invade and destroy the retina and can spread to bone tissue throughout the body. In most cases, the patient experiences blindness within weeks of diagnosis even after treatment.
What Are The Risk Factors For Bifid Uvula?
Some studies have identified a possible link between maternal use of the medicines isotretinoin (Sotret, Accutane) during pregnancy and bifid uvula in infants. These medicines are used to treat acne. The use of these medicines has not been proven to cause bifid uvula and more studies are underway to determine if there is a direct link.
How Is Bifid Uvula Diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical examination. He may also ask if anyone in your family or your child’s family has had a similar condition or tumor. This is to help identify any potential genetic causes of the tumors.
Because this condition usually occurs in both eyes, your doctor will examine your child’s eyes for signs of bifid uvula. He may also use a special instrument called an ophthalmoscope to look directly into your child’s eyes for signs of tumors.
If your child’s eye exam results are not typical, your doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI to confirm the diagnosis.
How Is Bifid Uvula Treated?
In early stages, bifid uvula is usually found during a routine eye examination and often does not require treatment. Most tumors are not cancerous and do not spread beyond the eye. They often disappear on their own without any treatment at all.
Some children with this condition may require surgery to remove the tumors and secure clear vision. The surgical procedure is similar to cataract surgery and does not cause any long-term vision loss.
If tumors are malignant, further treatment may be necessary. This may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy or in some cases, a bone marrow transplant.
Can Bifid Uvula Be Prevented?
There is no sure way to prevent this condition. If you are taking isotretinoin (Sotret, Accutane) for acne, talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about pregnancy or birth control before starting the treatment.
Since bifid uvula affects only the eyes, most children with this condition lead normal, active lives. Vision loss is uncommon and most people do not experience pain from this condition.
Sources & references used in this article:
The bifid uvula by GD Taylor – The laryngoscope, 1972 – Wiley Online Library
Severe developmental failure with coarse facialfeatures, distal limb hypoplasia, thickened palmar creases, bifid uvula, and ureteral stenosis: A previously unidentified … by RA Rüdiger, W Schmidt, DA Loose, E Passarge – The Journal of Pediatrics, 1971 – Elsevier
Keep an eye out for the bifid uvula: a case report by S Alroyayamina, M McKnight – Dental Update, 2015 – magonlinelibrary.com
Submucous clefts of the palate: how likely are they to be symptomatic? by BJ Mcwilliams – The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 1991 – journals.sagepub.com
Six families with van der Woude and/or popliteal pterygium syndrome: all with a mutation in the IRF6 gene by M Ghassibé, N Revencu, B Bayet, Y Gillerot… – Journal of medical …, 2004 – jmg.bmj.com
Prevalence of cleft uvula among school children in kindergarten through grade five by P Wharton, DE Mowrer – The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial …, 1992 – journals.sagepub.com
Prevalence of bifid uvula in primary school children by P Feka, J Banon, I Leuchter, GC La Scala – International Journal of …, 2019 – Elsevier
