Glossectomy

Reported by: Ms. Pamela Lusung

• Glossectomy is a surgery for the
removal of total or a part of the
tongue.
Purpose

A glossectomy is performed to treat

cancer of the tongue. Removing the
tongue is indicated if the patient has a
cancer that does not respond to other
forms of treatment
• Partial Glossectomy
• A partial glossectomy is rather a simple
surgery. The hole is normally repaired
by sewing up the tongue immediately
after the surgery or by using a small
graft of skin, if the "hole" left by the
removal of the cancer is small.
• Radial Forearm Free Flap
• A general approach is to use a piece of
skin taken from the wrist together with
the blood vessels that supply it.
• Total Glossectomy
• Complete removal of the tongue, called
a total glossectomy. Complete
glossectomy is hardly performed.
Diagnosis

• Biopsy is the only way to confirm a

diagnosis of cancer, if an area of
abnormal tissue has been found in the
mouth, either by the patient or by a
dentist or doctor. If the biopsy indicates
that cancer is present, a
comprehensive physical examination of
the patient's head and neck is
performed prior to surgery.
Post Glossectomy Care

• After the performance of the

glossectomy, patients usually remain in
the hospital for 8 to 10 days. They often
need oxygen in the first 24–48 hours
after the surgery.
• Until the patient can accept taking food
by mouth, he or she is given fluids
through a tube that goes from the nose
to the stomach. Radiation treatment is
often scheduled after the surgery to
demolish any remaining cancer cells.
As patients regain the ability to eat and
swallow, they also begin speech
therapy.
Risk factors Of Glossectomy
• Fistula formation.
• Poor speech and problem in
swallowing.
• Bleeding from the tongue.
• Flap failure.
Results after Glossectomy
surgery:
• A successful glossectomy results in
total removal of the cancer, better
capability to swallow food, and restored
speech.
• Total glossectomy results in severe
disability.
Partial glossectomy