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- $Unique_ID{BRK03956}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Macroglossia}
- $Subject{Macroglossia Giant Tongue Enlarged Tongue Congenial Macroglossia}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 333:
- Macroglossia
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Macroglossia) may not be
- the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the
- alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Giant Tongue
- Enlarged Tongue
-
- DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS
-
- Congenial Macroglossia
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
-
- Macroglossia can be either a congenital or acquired disorder in which the
- tongue is disproportionately larger than other oral structures. Sometimes
- the tongue may protrude from the mouth.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Macroglossia is a disorder characterized by a tongue that is large in
- proportion to other structures in the mouth. In the congenital type of the
- disorder, protrusion of the tongue from the mouth may interfere with feeding
- of the infant. Later, talking may be affected. The large size of the tongue
- may also cause abnormal development of the jaw and teeth, resulting in
- misaligned or protruding teeth. Ulceration and dying tissue on the tip of
- the tongue may be other symptoms of the disorder.
-
- Causes
-
- Macroglossia may be congenital, and is often associated with syndromes such as
- Myxedema, cretinism, acromegaly, amyloidosis, or glycogen storage disease.
-
- Macroglossia may be a symptom of Acromegaly, Apert syndrome, Down's
- Syndrome, Craniofacial Dysostosis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Hurler syndrome,
- Greig hypertelorism, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, or mandibulofacial
- dysostosis.
-
- Cystic tumors of the lymph vessels (lymphangiomas) also may be a cause of
- Macroglossia.
-
- For more information on the above disorders, choose the following words
- as your search terms in the Rare Disease Database: acromegaly, amyloidosis,
- glycogen storage, Apert, Down, Sturge, Hurler, and Beckwith.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Congenital Macroglossia affects newborn infants. The disorder may affect
- males and females of all ages.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Macroglossia may be an early sign of Acromegaly.
-
- In people who have lost their teeth (edentulous), in the absence of
- dentures, enlargement of the tongue may occur.
-
- In Moeller's Glossitis, the tongue is slick, glossy, or glazed. The
- lesions can be very distressing and persistent.
-
- Median Rhomboid Glossitis is a developmental lesion of the tongue. This
- lesion consists of a smooth, reddish, nodular area on the back portion of the
- middle third of the tongue.
-
- Hairy Tongue is characterized by yellowish, brownish, blackish or bluish
- discoloration of the tongue. Excessive growth of the threadlike elevations
- (filiform papillae) in front of the taste buds also occurs.
-
- Geographic Tongue is an inflammation of the tongue that may go into
- remission and recur again. This form of inflammation is characterized by
- smooth areas on the tongue which may feel slightly sore and sometimes itchy.
-
- Severe Acute Glossitis can be caused by local infection, burns, or injury
- to the tongue. This type of Glossitis may develop rapidly, producing marked
- tenderness or pain with swelling. In the most severe cases the swelling may
- be sufficient to cause the tongue to block air passages.
-
- For more information on the above disorders, choose tongue, acromegaly,
- hairy tongue, and geographic tongue as your search terms in the Rare Disease
- Database.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- In Congenital Macroglossia the size of the tongue may decrease with maturity,
- relative to other oral structures such as the teeth.
-
- In people whose Macroglossia was caused by loss of teeth, the size of the
- tongue may return to normal when they start wearing dentures.
-
- The tongue may be reduced in size by surgery with remodeling of the mouth
- and orthodontic procedures.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through March
- 1987. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
- entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
- check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
- information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Macroglossia, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- Association for Glycogen Storage Diseases
- Box 896
- Durant, IA 52747
- (319) 785-6038
-
- NIH/National Institute of Dental Research
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-4261
-
- Clinical Smell and Taste Research Center
- University of Pennsylvania Hospital
- 3400 Spruce Street, G1
- Philadelphia, PA 19104
- (215) 662-2653
-
- Department of Oral Biology
- Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center
- University of Connecticut Health Center
- Farmington, CT 06032
- (203) 674-2459
-
- References
-
- MACROGLOSSIA: ETIOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES: F. M.
- Rizer, et al.; International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (July
- 1985, issue 9,5) Pp. 189-194.
-
- SPONTANEOUS REGRESSION OF ANTERIOR OPEN BITE FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF
- MACROGLOSSIA: Maisels; British Journal of Plastic Surgery (October 1979,
- issue 32,4). Pp. 309-314.
-
-