Uncommon associations with cleft palate: Plausibility of postclosure opening as a cause of cleft palate

Epithelial remnants did not seem to be evidence of a postclosure opening event, because they were found in 23-85% of intact palates. However, perforation of the hard palate and a divided nevus on the cleft cannot be explained by embryology, which might indicate postclosure opening as a cause of the cleft. Clinical or animal studies are required to test this hypothesis further.