Velopharyngeal Structural and Muscle Variations in Children With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: An Unsedated MRI Study

Abstract

Children with 22q11.2DS demonstrated multiple variations that may contribute to velopharyngeal dysfunction by altering the anatomic characteristics of the velopharyngeal port, the levator muscle, and associated structures. This investigation represents the first and largest attempt to characterize velopharyngeal anatomy in children with 22q11.2DS using a nonsedated MRI protocol.