Macroglossia is the medical term for unusual enlargement (hypertrophy) of the tongue. Severe enlargement of the tongue can cause cosmetic and functional difficulties including in speaking, eating, swallowing and sleeping.
[edit] Causes
Macroglossia is common in primary and myeloma-related amyloidosis.[citation needed] Amyloidosis is an accumulation of insoluble proteins in tissues that impedes normal function.[1]
Macroglossia is also a clinical feature in congenital hypothyroidism,[2] rare genetic syndromes such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome[3] and immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies syndrome, acromegaly and Hurler syndrome.[citation needed]
Apparent macroglossia can also occur in Down syndrome.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Merck Manual 17th Ed.
- ^ Grant DB, Smith I, Fuggle PW, Tokar S, Chapple J (January 1992). "Congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening: relationship between biochemical severity and early clinical features". Arch. Dis. Child. 67 (1): 87–90. PMID 1739345.
- ^ Clauser L, Tieghi R, Polito J (March 2006). "Treatment of macroglossia in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome". J Craniofac Surg 17 (2): 369–72. PMID 16633192. http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?an=00001665-200603000-00030.
- ^ Guimaraes CV, Donnelly LF, Shott SR, Amin RS, Kalra M (October 2008). "Relative rather than absolute macroglossia in patients with Down syndrome: implications for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea". Pediatr Radiol 38 (10): 1062–7. doi:10.1007/s00247-008-0941-7. PMID 18685841. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-0941-7.
[edit] External links
| Congenital malformations and deformations of digestive system (Q35-Q45, 749-751) | | | Upper GI tract | | | | Lower GI tract | | | | Accessory | | | mouth navs: anat/dev, noncongen/congen face/congen GI/neoplasia, symptoms, proc
digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc | |
