Microstomia is a small mouth (''micro-'' a combining form meaning small + ''-stomia'' a combining form meaning

mouth In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...

= (abnormally) "small mouth" in Greek.)

Congenital

It is a

feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing characteristic of a software item ...

of many

craniofacial Craniofacial (''cranio-'' combining form meaning head or skull + ''-facial'' combining form referring to the facial structures grossly) is an adjective referring to the parts of the head enclosing the brain and the face. The term is typically used ...

syndrome A syndrome is a set of medical signs and symptoms which are correlated with each other and often associated with a particular disease or disorder. The word derives from the Greek σύνδρομον, meaning "concurrence". When a syndrome is paired ...

s, including

Freeman–Sheldon syndrome Freeman–Sheldon syndrome (FSS) is a very rare form of multiple congenital contracture (MCC) syndromes ( arthrogryposes) and is the most severe form of distal arthrogryposis (DA). It was originally described by Ernest Arthur Freeman and Joseph H ...

and Sheldon-Hall syndromes (or distal arthrogryposis multiplex congenita). It may present with whistling-face feature, as well, as in Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. In this syndrome, it impairs alimentation and may require repeated oral surgeries (called

commissurotomy A commissurotomy () is a surgical incision of a commissure in the body, as one made in the heart at the edges of the commissure formed by cardiac valves, or one made in the brain to treat certain psychiatric disorders. Patients with scleroderma, a ...

) to improve function.

Acquired

Microstomia can occur as a result of scarring due to many conditions. It is seen as complication of facial burns. It can also be a feature of

systemic scleroderma Systemic scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterised by excessive production and accumulation of collagen, called fibrosis, in the skin and internal organs and by injuries to small arteries. There are two m ...

References

External links

{{Congenital malformations and deformations of ear, face and neck Congenital disorders of eye, ear, face and neck