Macroglossia

Macroglossia is the medical term for unusual enlargement (hypertrophy) of the tongue

Tongue

The tongue is a muscle on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing and swallowing . It is the primary organ of taste, as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. A secondary function of the tongue is speech, in which the organ assists...

. Severe enlargement of the tongue can cause cosmetic and functional difficulties including in speaking, eating, swallowing and sleeping.

Macroglossia is the medical term for unusual enlargement (hypertrophy) of the tongue

Tongue

The tongue is a muscle on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing and swallowing . It is the primary organ of taste, as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. A secondary function of the tongue is speech, in which the organ assists...

. Severe enlargement of the tongue can cause cosmetic and functional difficulties including in speaking, eating, swallowing and sleeping.

Causes

Macroglossia is common in primary and myeloma-related amyloidosis

Amyloidosis

In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions in which amyloid proteins are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it takes on a particular aggregated insoluble form similar to the...

. Amyloidosis is an accumulation of insoluble proteins in tissues that impedes normal function.

Macroglossia is also a clinical feature in congenital hypothyroidism

Congenital hypothyroidism

Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition of thyroid hormone deficiency present at birth. Approximately 1 in 4000 newborn infants has a severe deficiency of thyroid function, while even more have mild or partial degrees. If untreated for several months after birth, severe congenital hypothyroidism...

, rare genetic syndromes such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is an overgrowth disorder present at birth characterized by an increased risk of childhood cancer and certain features...

 and immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies syndrome

Immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies syndrome

ICF syndrome is a very rare autosomal recessive immune disorder.-Genetics:...

, acromegaly

Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...

 and Hurler syndrome

Hurler syndrome

Hurler syndrome, also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type I , Hurler's disease or gargoylism, is a genetic disorder that results in the buildup of mucopolysaccharides due to a deficiency of alpha-L iduronidase, an enzyme responsible for the degradation of mucopolysaccharides in lysosomes...

.

Apparent macroglossia can also occur in Down syndrome

Down syndrome

Down syndrome , Down's syndrome , trisomy 21, or trisomy G is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who described the syndrome in 1866...

.

External links

• Grand Rounds Site