ISSN Online: 2177-1235 | ISSN Print: 1983-5175
Subtotal glossectomy by modified keyhole lingual resection technique for the treatment of true macroglossia
Glossectomia subtotal pela técnica de ressecção lingual em orifício de fechadura modificada como tratamento de macroglossia verdadeira
Original Article -
Year2012 -
Volume27 -
Issue
1
Moacir Cymrot1; Francisco de Assis Alves Teixeira2*; Felipe de Castro Dantas Sales3; Francisco Júlio Muniz Neto3
ABSTRACT
We describe a case of true macroglossia in a 6-year-old child that was surgically treated with a midline elliptical excision and anterior wedge resection along a Gothic-shaped arch. The postoperative result was considered satisfactory with regard to both the volume of the tongue, which now remains entirely within the mouth, and the aesthetic appearance; the ability to taste has been maintained.
Keywords:
Macroglossia/congenital. Macroglossia/surgery, Glossectomy. Tongue/surgery.
RESUMO
Neste artigo é apresentado o caso de macroglossia verdadeira em criança de 6 anos de idade, tratada cirurgicamente, com excisão elíptica na linha média da língua e ressecção ampla na ponta da língua em arco gótico. O resultado pós-operatório foi considerado satisfatório, tanto sob o aspecto de volume da língua, que passou a se manter totalmente dentro da boca, como sob o aspecto estético, mantendo a capacidade de gustação normal.
Palavras-chave:
Macroglossia/congênito. Macroglossia/cirurgia, Glossectomia. Língua/cirurgia.
INTRODUCTION
Macroglossia is an unusual pediatric condition with a variety of etiologies1,2. It is classified as true macroglossia when the tongue size is larger than normal, and as relative macroglossia when the oral cavity is not large enough to accommodate the tongue.
Macroglossia may be congenital or acquired2. The diagnosis is based on the presence of tongue protrusion with reference to the teeth, open lips, and maintenance of open-mouth posture3.
Myer et al.4 classified the etiologies of macroglossia - congenital, inflammatory, traumatic and neoplastic - as either generalized or localized (Table 1), according to the extent of the disease process5-24.
The tongue is involved in many functions, including swallowing, phonation, breathing, and normal development of the alveolar process and facial bone structure. Because of this, macroglossia may cause a number of problems, including difficulty in speaking, chewing, and swallowing as well as airway obstruction. In addition, tongue protrusion predisposes to tongue trauma, dry mouth, and repeated infections of the upper airways25.
The evaluation of macroglossia begins with a careful consideration of the patient's history and physical examination, with particular attention to changes in breathing, swallowing, phonation, and alteration of dental occlusion. Effort should also be made to try to identify any undiagnosed syndrome.
The therapeutic approach should include follow-up observations, treatment of any underlying systemic condition that may be causing tongue enlargement, orofacial therapy, and proper surgical intervention that preserves the vascularization and innervation of the tongue.
Surgical resection is considered the most appropriate treatment in the pediatric age group. Keyhole subtotal glossectomy is an optimal technique for these patients because it allows normal body development and prevents dentoalveolar complications. This technique was originally described by Morgan et al.26 and differs as to the reduction of muscle size in the 3 planes.
Surgical success should be evaluated by many factors, such as the disappearance of teeth marks on the edges of the tongue; proper positioning of the tongue within the oral cavity; improvement in or resolution of respiratory disorders; improvement in swallowing and phonation; preservation of taste, heat pain, epicritic and protopathic sensitivity; and improvement in tongue mobility.
Currently, priority is given to multidisciplinary treatment, including orthodontic, surgical, and phonoaudiological evaluation.
CASE REPORT
The patient, a 6-year-old girl, presented with a tongue with increased length and width. The tongue was resting and was interposed between the teeth, interfering with phonation and causing difficulty in chewing. Assessment of the skeletal profile showed absence of any alterations related to dentofacial deformities. A diagnosis of true macroglossia was made (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - Preoperative condition.
Glossoplasty was performed under general anesthesia, according to the technique of modified keyhole subtotal glossectomy with Gothic arch-shaped extensive resection of the tongue ends (Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 2 - Glossoplasty planning.
Figure 3 - Keyhole subtotal glossectomy, with gothic arch-shaped extensive resection of the tongue ends.
The incision was carried out using a surgical scalpel; the diaeresis was completed with electrocautery, for better hemostasis. In this manner, the excess tongue muscle tissue was removed (Figures 4 and 5). The tongue was closed using absorbable Vicryl sutures (Figure 6).
Figure 4 - Excess tongue tissue removal.
Figure 5 - Large rhomboid resection of the anterior third of the tongue.
Figure 6 - Approximation of planes and sutures.
DISCUSSION
Subtotal glossectomy is the appropriate surgical treatment in most cases in patients with airway obstruction, difficulty in speaking, dysphagia, and aesthetic damage.
Several surgical techniques are described for the correction of true macroglossia; these are subdivided into median line and peripheral glossectomies27.
In 1950, Edgerton28 described a technique consisting of excision along the center of the tongue with preservation of blood vessels, nerves, and taste buds, obtaining as result getting the strengthening of the tongue without changing the length (Figure 7). In 1965, Kole29 proposed a triangular incision at the end of the tongue, reducing the length and thickness of the anterior third of the tongue (Figure 8).
Figure 7 - Elliptical excision in the center of the tongue, as proposed by Edgerton28.
Figure 8 - Triangular incision at the end of the tongue, as proposed by Kole29.
The surgical technique presented in this article is a variant of keyhole glossectomy, originally described by Morgan et al.26, and involves a large excision of the distal end of the tongue, thus further reducing its length.
The realization of this technique has shown good results in the case shown (Figure 9), as in others described in the literature27-30.
Figure 9 - Anatomical presentation of the tongue at 9 months postoperatively.
In cases of macroglossia with idiopathic muscle hypertrophy, such as the reported in this paper, there is risk of relapse, thus, the surgical indication must be individualized, taking into consideration the risks and possible benefits for the patient31,32.
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1. Plastic surgeon, Associate Professor at the Universidade Estadual do Ceará (State University of Ceará), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
2. Specialist member of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery), Surgery Assistant at the Clínica de Cirurgia Crânio-Facial do Hospital Infantil Albert Sabin (Facial-Skull Clinic at Albert Sabin Children's Hospital), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
3. Medical student at the Universidade Estadual do Ceará (State University of Ceará), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Moacir Cymrot
Rua Bonfim Sobrinho, 316 - ap. 901 - Fátima
Fortaleza, CE, Brazil - CEP 60040-500
E-mail: moacymrot@uol.com.br
Submitted to SGP (Sistema de Gestão de Publicações/Manager Publications System) of RBCP (Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica/Brazilian Journal of Plastic Surgery).
Article received: February 22, 2010
Article accepted: June 4, 2011
Study conducted at the Universidade Estadual do Ceará (State University of Ceará), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
* In memoriam.
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