Isolated Tessier No. 1 Cleft of the Nose

Abstract

We report 3 patients with isolated cleft or coloboma of the nose--an extremely rare occurrence. This entity belongs to no. 1 of Tessier's classification of craniofacial clefts. Excessive separation of the medial and lateral nasal processes of the frontonasal process may be the genesis of this condition. Management should address two points: the cleft and the associated malformations of the cartilaginous nasal framework.