See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/313371126

Macroglossia

Article  in  Revista Clínica Española · April 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.rce.2016.12.003

CITATIONS READS

0 274

2 authors, including:

Satvinder S Bakshi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Mangalagiri
185 PUBLICATIONS   222 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Effect of bhramari pranayama in chronic rhinosinusitis View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Satvinder S Bakshi on 03 February 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Documento descargado de http://www.revclinesp.es el 02/04/2017. Copia para uso personal, se prohíbe la transmisión de este documento por cualquier medio o formato.

Rev Clin Esp. 2017;217(3):171

Revista Clínica
Española
www.elsevier.es/rce

MEDICINE IN IMAGE

Macroglossia
Macroglosia

S. Singh Bakshi a,∗ , S. Bhattacharjee b

a
Dept of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam,
Pondicherry, India
b
Dr Smilez Dental Clinic, Pondicherry, India

Received 9 November 2016; accepted 13 December 2016

Available online 5 February 2017

A 38-year-old male patient presented with difficulty in

speaking and swallowing for the past 2 years, symptoms
associated with a progressive enlargement of the tongue. On
examination, macroglossia (Fig. 1) was noted, the remaining
systemic and neurological examination being within normal
limits. Hematological parameters were normal and tests to
rule out amyloidosis, hypothyroidism, acromegaly and other
congenital abnormalities were negative. A diagnosis of idio-
pathic macroglossia was made, and reduction glossectomy
was performed. The postoperative histopathology showed
hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers. The patient’s symp-
toms improved after surgery and he was asymptomatic at
the 1-year follow up.
Macroglossia is present when the tongue protrudes
beyond the teeth during resting posture or the impression
of teeth is found on the lingual border when the patient
slightly opens their mouth. Various classification systems
have been proposed, but two common ones are the Myer
classification which subdivides macroglossia as generalized
or localized, and the Vogel classification which subdivides
macroglossia as true or relative. The most common etiolo-
gies include vascular malformations, especially lymphatic,
and muscular hypertrophy. Congenital macroglossia is gen- Figure 1
erally seen in Down’s syndrome and Beckwith-Wiedemann
syndrome. Patients may present with a combination of dys- of saliva. Other causes include amyloidosis, myxedema,
phagia, dyspnea, dysphonia, cosmetic deformity or drooling acromegaly, mucopolysaccaridosis, multiple endocrine neo-
plasia type 2B, and tongue tumors. Treatment includes
the identification and correction of the underlying pathol-
∗ Corresponding author. ogy and reduction glossectomy to reduce the size of the
E-mail address: saty.bakshi@gmail.com (S. Singh Bakshi). tongue.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rce.2016.12.003
0014-2565/© 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.

View publication stats