Macroglossia: what is it, symptoms and treatment | Top Doctors (2024)

FAQs

Macroglossia: what is it, symptoms and treatment | Top Doctors? ›

Various modalities of treatment, including medications, surgery, radiation, and orthodontic treatment, may be used to treat macroglossia. Patients with acromegaly and macroglossia who do not respond to medical therapy may benefit from partial glossectomy.

Various modalities of treatment, including medications, surgery, radiation, and orthodontic treatment, may be used to treat macroglossia. Patients with acromegaly and macroglossia who do not respond to medical therapy may benefit from partial glossectomy.

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.

Macroglossia is usually caused by an underlying condition. When it's present at birth, it's often caused by genetic disorders like Down syndrome or congenital hypothyroidism. It can also develop later in life due to physical trauma, acromegaly, acquired hypothyroidism, or inflammatory conditions.

Imaging Studies

Computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - Helpful if macroglossia is interfering with the airway, especially in severe obstructive sleep apnea; such studies are also obtained to help delineate the extent of tumors and aid in planning for surgical resection.

If macroglossia is left untreated during child development, a dentist or orthodontist may be necessary to correct teeth and jaws problems. If the enlarged tongue is so big it prevents the sufferer from living a normal life, surgery is the only option to dramatically reduce the tongue size.

Summary: Macroglossia, due to genetic disorder cannot be treated, it can only be managed by surgical procedures. On the other hand, infection-related causes can be treated with the help of medications.

Vitamin deficiencies, particularly Vitamin B12, cause B12 deficiency glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) mimicking macroglossia [1].

Inherited or congenital disorders associated with Macroglossia include Down syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, primary amyloidosis, and congenital hypothyroidism. Acquired causes may include trauma, cancer, endocrine disorders, and inflammatory or infectious diseases.

The consequences of macroglossia usually include possible dysfunction of the orthognathic system, breathing and speech problems, increased mandibular size, open bite, tooth spacing and other dentoskeletal problems.

What vitamin deficiency causes swollen tongue? ›

vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency can cause a swollen, red, beefy-looking tongue. “You may also get tingling in the hands and feet, fatigue, and weakness,” says Dr. Morrison.

Information. Macroglossia is most often caused by an increase in the amount of tissue in the tongue, rather than by a growth, such as a tumor. This condition can be seen in certain inherited or congenital (existing at birth) disorders, including: Acromegaly (buildup of too much growth hormone in the body)

Children with macroglossia have tongues that are disproportionately large for their mouths. In some cases, the tongue may protrude from the mouth and interfere with the child's tooth placement, ability to eat, and/or speech development.

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.

The average length of stay in patients who underwent partial glossectomy for macroglossia was 9.59 days (Range 1-211 days, median 3.45 days) and the average cost was $56,602 (median $16,330). Conclusion: Partial glossectomy for macroglossia is typically performed prior to age 2 in the United States.

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.

Some children have a large tongue (macroglossia). It can cause difficulties with feeding, breathing, drooling, speech, the position of the teeth and jaw and may affect your child's facial appearance. Tongue reduction surgery will help overcome the difficulties caused by having a large tongue by making it smaller.

Tracheostomy is reserved for the worst cases. Macroglossia in older children that affects cosmesis, interferes with speech, or causes drooling may be treated with a variety of other tongue reduction techniques.

Tongue-reduction surgery is an effective and safe technique for severe forms of macroglossia associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. In addition, it improves mandibular prognathism in young Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome patients with macroglossia.