BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Performing oncologically safe, wide surgical excisions and postoperative volumetric restoration of resected tongues to gain functional recovery are contrary problems to deal with in performing glossectomy. There is no report about the volumetric restoration of a resected tongue according to resecting devices until now. The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of postoperative volumetric changes of a resected tongue using a scalpel, electrocautery and laser with or without closure. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We used 12 rabbits for each group according to the resecting devices and also equally divided each group according to the closure or non-closure method. The volumetric changes of a resected tongue were measured by the Archimedes principles in one, two, three, and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Regardless of resecting devices, the postoperative volume of a resected tongue was gradually increased as elapsed time. The nonclosure method was better than the closure method with respect to the volumetric restoration of the resected tongue regardless of the resecting devices, but there was no statistical significance of volumetric restoration between the closure and nonclosure methods in each group (p>0.05). The superior resecting device for the volumetric restoration of a resected tongue was diode laser, especially compared to electrocautry, in both closure and nonclosure method (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The volumetric restoration after resection of the tongue using laser and nonclosure method are superior to electrocautery and to the closure method, respectively.
Electrocoagulation* ; Glossectomy ; Lasers, Semiconductor* ; Rabbits ; Tongue*

The tongue is located inside the oral cavity at rest, and the structural interrelations between the tongue and the oral cavity is essentially important for normal tongue function. Macroglossia is clinically diagnosed whenever the tongue does not fit the oral cavity, thus patients complain of noisy breathing, drooling, speech and swallowing dysfunction, malocclusion, and social ridicule. Partial glossectomy for macroglossia volume has been assumed to be difficult. In this study, we attempted to measure the tongue volume with the plaster tongue model in a 7-year-old macroglossia patient. This method is reliable and simple for measuring the tongue volume in macroglossia.
Child ; Deglutition ; Glossectomy* ; Humans ; Macroglossia* ; Malocclusion ; Mouth ; Respiration ; Sialorrhea ; Tongue*

Malignant tumours of the oral cavity that require resection of the tongue result in severe deficiencies in speech and deglutition. In such patients, improvements in mastication, swallowing, and speech may be reasonable goals for treatment. The viability of a prosthodontic approach to treatment depends on the type and extent of surgery. In a total glossectomy, a mandibular tongue prosthesis is the treatment of choice. Mandibular tongue prosthesis occupies the space in the floor of the oral cavity. It provides the patients with a platform for directing food into the esophagus and aids in speaking. This type of prosthesis can achieve that protection of the underlying fragile tissue and improvement in appearance and psychosocial adjustment. This case report describes the technical steps involved in prosthetic rehabilitation for a glossectomy patient.
Deglutition ; Esophagus ; Glossectomy* ; Humans ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Tongue

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the partial glossectomy on the mandibular growth of growing rats. Thirty one Sprague-Dawley rats four weeks old were divided into two groups : the first group served as the control and the second group was partially excised in the tongue of the rats. The experimental animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks after partial glossectomy. The changes of the rat mandibular growth following partial glossectomy were observed biometrically from dry bone specimens. The findings were as follows: 1. Partial glossectomy of growing rat produced inhibitory effects on the growth of the mandible and did not change the original shape of the mandible. 2. Among the factors affecting mandibular growth, the presence of the proper tongue size was essential. 3. Partial glossectomy of the growing rats could not change general growth of the rats whole bodies.
Animals ; Glossectomy* ; Mandible ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tongue

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the influences of postoperative oral function in patients with median or paramedian mandibulotomy during the radical resection of tongue carcinoma and to provide evidence for the choice of osteotomy location for mandibulotomy. METHODS: The clinical data of 126 patients who underwent combined radical neck dissection with mandibulectomy and glossectomy followed by simultaneous reconstruction were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the position of mandibulotomy: median mandibulotomy group (median group, n=60) and paramedian mandibulotomy group (paramedian group, n=66). The fourth edition of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) was used to compare the differences in oral functions, such as swallowing, mastication, and speech, between the two groups during regular follow-up. SPSS 24.0 software package was used for statistical analysis, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Six months after the operation, no significant differences in swallowing, mastication, and speech functions were found between the median and paramedian groups. However, the swallowing and speech functions in the paramedian group were better than those in the median group 1 year after the operation (P<0.05), whereas no statistical difference in mastication function was observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of the postoperative oral function results showed that paramedian mandibulotomy was a better surgical approach than median mandibulotomy. Paramedian mandibulotomy is worth prioritizing in the radical resection of tongue carcinoma.
Glossectomy ; Humans ; Mandibular Osteotomy ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue Neoplasms

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is a thin and pliable tissue with many advantages for tongue reconstruction. However, tongues reconstructed with RFFF occasionally need revision surgery because inadequate defect measurement at primary surgery can lead to bulkiness and limited movement of reconstructed tongue. In this case, the patient underwent partial glossectomy and RFFF reconstruction for treatment of tongue cancer five years prior. We could not make a lower denture for the patient, because the alveolo-lingual sulcus of tongue was almost lost. So we performed vestibuloplasty with a modified Kazanjian method on the lingual vestibule of the mandibular right posterior area, and defatting surgery to debulk the flap. After surgery, we observed that the color and texture of the revised tongue changed to become similar with adjacent tissue. The patient obtained a more functional and esthetic outcome. Accordingly, we present a case report with a review of relevant literature.
Dentures ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Glossectomy ; Humans ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Tongue* ; Vestibuloplasty*

Macroglossia can cause dentomusculoskeletal deformities, instability of orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment, and create masticatory, speech and airway management problems. To determine whether a reduction glossectomy is necessary, it will important to identify the signs and symptoms of macroglossia. Development of dentoskeletal changes directly related with tongue size, such as an anterior open bite or a Angle Class III malocclusion tendency, would indicate that reduction glossectomy may be beneficial. For reduction glossectomy, several techniques have been reported. However, in most techniques the tip of tongue is removed. So its excision causes the loss of most mobile and sensitive portion of the tongue, and creates ankylosed, globular tongue. To avoid such problems, central tongue reduction technique have been proposed. This article will introduce central tongue reduction for anterior openbite case associated with macroglossia.
Airway Management ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Glossectomy ; Macroglossia* ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Open Bite ; Tongue*

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome consists of various abnormalities, including macroglossia, visceromegaly, omphalocele, and neonatal hypoglycemia. These abnormalities frequently require operative correction and careful anesthetic management. Principal problems associated with anesthetic management in this syndrome are congenital heart disease, hypoglycemia, and difficult airway combined with macroglossia. We report two cases of general anesthetic management in children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
Anesthesia ; Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome ; Child ; Glossectomy ; Heart Diseases ; Hernia, Umbilical ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Macroglossia

Macroglossia can create dental and skeletal instability after orthodontic treatment or orthognathic surgery for mandibular prognathism. In relevant literature, partial glossectomy is suggested for a good post-treatment prognosis. Most of the published partial glossectomy cases are two-staged surgery, because of concern about postoperative airway obstruction. As orthognathic surgical techniques and fixation method develop, however, concerns about postoperative airway obstruction have lessened. In this case, mandibular setback surgery and partial glossectomy were performed simultaneously, leading to stable recovery without any postoperative respiratory problems. After surgical technique to preserve the tongue tip, we achieved good outcomes without postoperative side effects of lingual hypoesthesia, pronunciation disorder and dyskinesia. We report this case with a literature review.
Airway Obstruction ; Dyskinesias ; Glossectomy* ; Hypesthesia ; Macroglossia ; Orthognathic Surgery* ; Prognathism* ; Prognosis ; Tongue

PURPOSE: Advanced carcinoma of the tongue is a devastating disease which may cause severe speech or swallowing dysfunction. But, none to date has provided all of the complex functions of the tongue. The purpose of this study is to review our experiences with individuals who underwent glossectomy followed by reconstruction using free tissue transfer. METHODS: Between February 1998 and February 2005, twenty-four patients underwent glossectomy followed by free tissue transfer reconstruction. The defects of tongue caused by partial or subtotal glossectomy were reconstructed by means of radial forearm or lateral thigh free flap with nerve innervation. Especially for the patients who underwent total glossectomy, we reconstructed deglutition muscles anatomically with nerve reinnervation, a procedure that allows the grafted muscle to maintain good tongue bulk without obvious atrophy. RESULTS: Patients were reviewed to determine their functional outcome as it related to speech, deglutition, and aspiration. All patients achieved oral intake of a soft diet and acceptable speech. CONCLUSION: Although reconstruction following glossectomy using free tissue transfer is not ideal, this procedure is safe and reliable, and provides predictable results. A future challenge is the development of a surgical procedure for reconstruction of a tongue that maintains mobility and sensation using neurotized flaps.
Atrophy ; Deglutition ; Diet ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Glossectomy ; Humans ; Muscles ; Sensation ; Thigh ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Tongue* ; Transplants