Effects of surgical reduction of the tongue

• Published in: British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 490 - 495
• Main Authors: Ueyama, Y., Mano, T., Nishiyama, A., Tsukamoto, G., Shintani, S., Matsumura, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Londonc Elsevier Ltd 01.12.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Cephalometry; Dentistry; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Macroglossia - diagnosis; Macroglossia - surgery; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Oral Surgical Procedures; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Pharynx - anatomy & histology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract; Tongue - anatomy & histology; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Human; Tongue; Radiodiagnosis; Stomatology; Anthropometry; Lateral; Craniometry; Macroglossia; Plasty; Radiography; Reduction; Treatment; Surgery; Oral cavity disease; Biological effect
• ISSN: 0266-4356; 1532-1940
• DOI: 10.1054/bjom.1999.0196

There are still no objective diagnostic criteria for macroglossia. The aims of this study were to examine the effect of reduction of the tongue on its position, and to suggest a standard measurement point for the objective diagnosis of macroglossia. Twenty-four patients were studied. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken with the tongue in the rest position, and preoperative and postoperative measurements were made on cephalometric lateral roentgenograms from all 14 patients with macroglossia and the 10 control subjects. The results suggested that measurement of length of the tongue, and the tongue area: oral cavity ratio on lateral cephalometric radiographs are useful in the more accurate diagnosis of macroglossia.