What are macroglossia symptoms?
An oversized tongue that’s always sticking out may be the most obvious and common macroglossia symptom. Other symptoms are:
What are the causes of macroglossia?
Macroglossia has several causes. Very rarely, people are born with oversized tongues but no other medical problems. More frequently, macroglossia is a symptom of an underlying condition that people either inherit or acquire through illness. Some surgeries and medical treatments may cause macroglossia.
What inherited conditions might cause macroglossia?
Macroglossia is linked to several inherited conditions. Here’s information on a few of those conditions:
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: This is a growth disorder syndrome that causes large body size, large organs and can increase children’s risk for developing certain childhood cancers. Approximately 90% of children who have Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome also have macroglossia.
- Hurler/Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis): This is a group of diseases that affects your body’s ability to break down sugar molecules.
- Down syndrome: People with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome, which changes the way their brain and body develop, creating and physical and mental challenges.
What acquired conditions might cause macroglossia?
Acquired causes may include metabolic or endocrine conditions, like hypothyroidism or infections, such as diphtheria. Some acquired conditions that cause macroglossia include:
- Amyloidosis: This is a protein disorder that keeps tissues and organs from working as they should. Macroglossia is the most common oral symptom of amyloidosis.
- Hypothyroidism: This is a common condition where your thyroid doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into your bloodstream. This makes your metabolism slow down. Hypothyroidism is a common cause of macroglossia in children.
- Acromegaly: This is a rare condition that causes your body to release too much growth hormone. People with acromegaly often have oversized tongues, jaws, hands and feet.
- Diphtheria: This is an infectious disease that may cause your tongue to swell.
What tumors might cause macroglossia?
Macroglossia can be a symptom of several benign and cancerous tumors, including:
- Lymphangioma: This is a benign tumor that develops in your lymphatic system, causing fluid-filled cysts on the mucous membranes in your mouth.
- Hemangioma: These are benign tumors that grow from blood vessels.
- Lymphoma: This cancer affects your lymph system.
FAQs
In true macroglossia, enlargement of the tongue occurs due to tissue overgrowth from lingual muscular hypertrophy or glandular hyperplasia, tissue infiltration, infectious or inflammatory causes. It is seen in both congenital and acquired conditions.
Can you get rid of macroglossia? ›
Treatment for Macroglossia
In cases where the cause isn't clear, medical therapies haven't been shown to be useful. In mild cases of macroglossia, speech therapy may improve issues with speaking. In more severe cases, your healthcare professional may recommend surgery to reduce the size of your tongue.
What systemic diseases are associated with macroglossia? ›
Acquired macroglossia is usually due to metabolic or inflammatory conditions, such as:
- Systemic amyloidosis.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Acromegaly.
- Trauma and surgical procedures.
- Radiation therapy.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Conditions that cause an enlarged tongue include: Acromegaly: A rare condition that causes your body to release too much growth hormone. As a result, you may have an oversized tongue. Amyloidosis: A protein disorder that prevents tissues and organs from working as they should.
What is the most common cause of macroglossia? ›
Macroglossia is the most common oral symptom of amyloidosis. Hypothyroidism: This is a common condition where your thyroid doesn't create and release enough thyroid hormone into your bloodstream. This makes your metabolism slow down. Hypothyroidism is a common cause of macroglossia in children.
What is the solution for macroglossia? ›
Treatments for macroglossia
The tongue size can be reduced surgically. Also, dental or orthodontic procedures can help by making more room in the mouth. If a cause of macroglossia has been diagnosed, such as hypothyroidism or amyloidosis, treatment of the cause may assist in decreasing the tongue size.
What vitamin deficiency causes macroglossia? ›
Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause glossitis that mimics macroglossia.
How do you reduce an enlarged tongue? ›
What Is the Treatment for Swollen Tongue?
- Ice packs to reduce swelling.
- Sucking on ice cubes or ice pops.
- Stitches for open wounds.
- Rinsing with warm salt water.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain and inflammation.
- Avoid spicy foods and alcohol.
- Don't smoke.
Tongue Reduction
This is especially common among people with Down syndrome or macroglossia, which is an unusually large tongue. Tongue reduction is a surgical procedure that reduces the overall size of the base of the tongue. It's performed at Penn by Erica Thaler, MD, using TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS).
How rare is macroglossia? ›
Although the exact incidence of macroglossia in the general population is unknown (because the etiologies are too numerous to quantify), the condition is found in some congenital syndromes, such as Down syndrome (1 per 700 live births) and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (0.07 per 1000 live births).
Some infants with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome have an abnormally large tongue (macroglossia ), which may interfere with breathing, swallowing, and speaking.
What are the clinical features of macroglossia? ›
Macroglossia is characterized by an enlarged and thick tongue that may have fissures and ulcers, may cause language alterations, difficulties for feeding and swallowing, sialorrhea and recurrent infections of the upper airway or even its obstruction.
What medication causes enlarged tongue? ›
Swelling of the face, lips, and tongue can happen quickly in people who take an ACE inhibitor.
What autoimmune disease causes tongue swelling? ›
Autoimmune disorders like hypothyroidism, Sjogren's syndrome, and lichen planus can also cause tongue swelling. People with these conditions experience an overactive immune response that can lead to swelling, a burning sensation on the tongue, soreness, and cracked or discolored patches.
Can an enlarged tongue be fixed? ›
Treatment for macroglossia often depends on the underlying cause of the enlargement of the tongue. It can range from speech therapy for mild cases to surgical interventions for more severe cases.
What deficiency causes macroglossia? ›
Vitamin deficiencies, particularly Vitamin B12, cause B12 deficiency glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) mimicking macroglossia [1].
What causes macroglossia in infants? ›
Some children are born with an abnormally large tongue due to genetics. Other children can have a large tongue due to several medical conditions: Acromegaly (gigantism) Amyloidosis.
