Macroglossia

The presence of an excessively large tongue, which may be congenital or may develop as a result of a tumor or edema due to obstruction of lymphatic vessels, or it may occur in association with hyperpituitarism or acromegaly. It also may be associated with malocclusion because of pressure of the tongue on the teeth. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)

Also Known As:

Networked: 167 relevant articles (4 outcomes, 4 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Lymphangioma (Cavernous Lymphangioma)
2.	Aneuploidy (Aneuploid)
3.	Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (Exomphalos Macroglossia Gigantism Syndrome)
4.	Amyloidosis
5.	Open Bite (Openbite)

Experts

1.	Bilge, Turgay: 2 articles (06/2007 - 05/2006)
2.	Kotil, Kadir: 2 articles (06/2007 - 05/2006)
3.	Shanti, Rabie M: 1 article (12/2015)
4.	Ziccardi, Vincent B: 1 article (12/2015)
5.	Braidy, Hani F: 1 article (12/2015)
6.	Espinosa-Rosso, R: 1 article (11/2015)
7.	Ley-Martos, M: 1 article (11/2015)
8.	Solera-Garcia, J: 1 article (11/2015)
9.	Jimenez-Jimenez, L: 1 article (11/2015)
10.	Salado-Reyes, M J: 1 article (11/2015)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Macroglossia:

1.	Thyroxine (Levothyroxine)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2006 - "Thyroxine replacement therapy was associated with improvement in findings that reflect a compromised upper airway, such as macroglossia (4 [33%] vs. 1 [8%]; P=0.083), myoedema (5 [42%] vs. 1 [8%]; P=0.046) and facial puffiness (10 [83%] vs. 1 [8%]; P=0.003). " 04/01/2015 - "TSH was normalized under L-thyroxin, and the symptoms disappeared, except for a macroglossia. " 01/01/1992 - "Infants with plasma thyroxine values of 30 nmol/l or less had a significantly higher incidence of prolonged jaundice, feeding difficulties, lethargy, umbilical hernia and macroglossia, showed more severe delay of bone maturation on a knee radiograph, and had a higher proportion of thyroid agenesis on isotope scan. "
2.	Congenital macroglossiaIBA 08/01/2006 - "The aim of this study was to develop an effective single intraoral, minimally invasive technique to reduce the enlarged tongue base in children with obstructive macroglossia. " 05/01/2015 - "The patient had a morbidly enlarged tongue and presented with clinical signs and symptoms consistent with massive macroglossia. " 10/01/2011 - "Macroglossia is defined as an enlarged tongue that in the resting position protrudes beyond the alveolar ridge or teeth. " 04/01/2011 - "Macroglossia is defined as an enlarged tongue and it is usually clinically diagnosed. " 01/01/2011 - "Enlarged tongue or macroglossia may compromise vital functions of the patient. "
3.	MyostatinIBA 05/01/2011 - "Results of the present study suggest that decreased expression of myostatin in SCNT-cloned dogs may be involved in morphological abnormalities such as increased muscle mass and macroglossia, which may contribute to impaired fetal development and poor survival rates."
4.	TaurodontismIBA 02/01/1985 - "In a study of patients with an X chromosome aneuploidy (XXXXX, XXXX, XXXXY, XXXY) the following facial and dental defects were found to be characteristic features of these syndromes: mainly bifid uvula and macroglossia, enamel defects, dental taurodontism and abnormal roots. "
5.	Amyloid (Amyloid Fibrils)IBA 12/10/2013 - "Macroglossia due to amyloid deposition is a helpful clinical clue. " 11/01/2009 - "Amyloid deposition in the oral cavity usually manifests as macroglossia, however it can present elsewhere in the mouth as nodular or plaquelike lesions. " 07/01/2002 - "Use of the intubating laryngeal mask in failed intubation associated with amyloid macroglossia." 05/01/1995 - "Amyloid changes first presented in the tissues of the tongue and floor of mouth and were seen clinically as a macroglossia. " 01/01/1994 - "A case of extreme macroglossia was observed in a patient with amyloid disease and dysglobulinaemia. "
6.	Primary amyloidosisIBA 02/01/2013 - "Surgical treatment of macroglossia caused by systemic primary amyloidosis." 04/01/1999 - "A case of macroglossia due to primary amyloidosis is described, followed by a discussion of the various aspects of surgical intervention based on a literature review." 04/01/1999 - "Surgical management of macroglossia due to primary amyloidosis." 06/01/1993 - "Macroglossia--the presenting feature of primary amyloidosis." 09/01/1992 - "Only macroglossia was more frequent in primary amyloidosis (p less than 0.001). "
7.	CosmeticsIBA 07/01/2012 - "Macroglossia may affect a child's cosmetic appearance, feeding, and drooling function. " 04/01/2013 - "Macroglossia is the commonest symptom of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and sometimes requires surgical tongue reduction for cosmetic, feeding, drooling and speech problems. " 06/01/1980 - "The aim of plastic surgery in children with down-syndrome is the improvement of speech (by correction of macroglossia) as well as improvement of cosmetic appearance (by correction of saddle nose deformity, epicanthic folds receding chin and deformity of ears). " 05/01/2011 - "Macroglossia due to amyloid depositions can cause cosmetic problems and functional disability, and can lead to life-threatening airway obstruction. "
8.	Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndromeIBA 04/01/2001 - "Simpson Golabi Behmel syndrome (SGBS) is a complex congenital overgrowth syndrome with features that include macroglossia, macrosomia, and renal and skeletal abnormalities as well as an increased risk of embryonal cancers. " 01/01/2015 - "Clinical overlap exists between Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) which share pre- and postnatal overgrowth, macroglossia, umbilical hernia, organomegaly, ear lobe creases, and occurrence of embryonal tumors as characteristic features. " 02/01/2015 - "The Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) is an overgrowth condition characterised by macrosomia, mental deficiency, large head, prominent skull sutures, midface deficiency, hypertelorism, broad nose, wide mouth, macroglossia, malocclusion, highly arched palate, and musculoskeletal and limb abnormalities. "
9.	Immunoglobulin G (IgG)IBA 09/01/2010 - "Autologous stem cell transplant is one of the therapies employed in the treatment of primary amyloidosis or AL. The authors report on a 46-year-old patient with bilateral periorbital hematomas, macroglossia who presented, during the investigation, IgG-Kappa paraprotein in serum. " 03/01/2000 - "In an 86-year-old woman with a multiple myeloma of the IgG lambda subtype a coinciding systemic amyloidosis manifested as a macroglossia, diffuse alopecia and generalized cutaneous involvement. "
10.	Dexamethasone (Maxidex)FDA LinkGeneric 02/01/2014 - "Macroglossia was managed with dexamethasone and there was complete resolution of dysautonomia while treated with beta-blockers and gabapentin. " 02/01/2013 - "In the event of methylprednisolone sodium succinate-induced macroglossia, alternative nonesterified corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone or prednisone, should be considered if continuation of therapy is required."

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Glossectomy 05/01/1997 - "Midline glossectomy with epiglottidectomy has variable results, yet is effective in selected patients with hypopharyngeal narrowing related to macroglossia." 01/01/2008 - "To study the clinical efficacy of partial glossectomy assisted with temperature-controlled radiofrequency for treating macroglossia. " 05/01/2012 - "The treatment of macroglossia included tongue reduction by partial glossectomy. " 02/01/2009 - "A case of successful reduction glossectomy for idiopathic macroglossia is presented. " 01/01/2008 - "Partial glossectomy assisted with temperature-controlled radiofrequency for treating macroglossia is an effective, much safer and less invasive procedure without obvious adverse reactions. "
2.	Airway Management 10/01/2014 - "Airway management in patients presenting with macroglossia is especially significant and requires meticulous preparation and pre-operative assessment. " 04/01/2014 - "In the evaluation of the glottic view grade when we combined macroglossia and cervical rigidity, the case presented significantly more cases of Cormack-Lehane grade 3. The present modifications proposed for the Airway Management Trainer are easy to complete to render it similar to the Airsim for training in difficult airway management." 02/01/2009 - "Successful airway management of an infant or child with macroglossia prerequisites recognition of a potential airway problem. " 11/01/2008 - "Difficult airway management in lymphangiomatos macroglossia." 10/01/2001 - "Although it had been speculated preoperatively that airway management would be complicated by the macroglossia, there was no difficulty in endotracheal intubation in the present patient. "
3.	Radiotherapy 04/01/2011 - "The treatment of macroglossia depends on its aetiology and generally includes correcting the systemic disease underlying the increase in lingual mass, surgical treatment, radiotherapy and treatment of orthodontic abnormalities that might have been caused by the condition." 10/01/2003 - "The difficulties in implant treatment planning for an edentulous patient with macroglossia and soft tissue changes following radiotherapy are discussed." 05/01/2011 - "Macroglossia due to Systemic Amyloidosis: Is There a Role for Radiotherapy?" 10/01/2003 - "Implant treatment of macroglossia and edentulous mandible following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer: a case report." 11/01/2014 - "We evaluated 319 patients before microlaryngoscopy for benign and malignant glottic diseases by a standardized preoperative assessment protocol (Laryngoscore) that included 11 parameters: interincisors gap (IIG), thyro-mental distance, upper jaw dental status, trismus, mandibular prognathism, macroglossia, micrognathia, degree of neck flexion-extension, history of previous open-neck and/or radiotherapy, Mallampati's modified score, and body mass index (BMI). "
4.	Lasers (Laser) 12/01/2011 - "One patient subsequently required multiple laser procedures for recurrent macroglossia. " 08/01/2015 - "Other causes of macroglossia, such as vascular malformations, can be managed with less aggressive measures such as laser and radio-frequency ablation. " 07/01/2009 - "We presented tongue reduction with laser and its early result on a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome for macroglossia." 04/01/1998 - "The transoral approach combined with a laser surgical tissue resection is often not efficient where diffuse amyloid muscular deposits are present in the form of macroglossia with induration of the floor of the mouth. "
5.	Neurosurgical Procedures 05/01/2012 - "Macroglossia is a rare complication following neurosurgical procedures with very few cases reported so far. " 05/01/2006 - "Postoperative macroglossia is a very rare complication associated with neurosurgical procedures. " 02/01/2014 - "Macroglossia has been reported in patients undergoing posterior fossa neurosurgical procedures and is thought to be as a result of venous engorgement from intubation or mechanical positioning during these prolonged procedures. "