There is a clinical entity in which infants are born with large tongues as a consequence of idiopathic hypertrophy of the muscle fibers. Of nine such cases treated by this author, seven also had an omphalocele or an umbilical hernia—an association not well understood.
An anterior wedge resection of the tongue at approximately six months of age to pro tect against prognathism and speech defects seems advisable.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Wiedemann, H.R. : Complexe malformatif familial avec hernia ombilicale et macroglossie—un "syndrome nouveau"?J. Genet. Hum.13: 224, 1964.
2.
Bronstein, I.P. , Abelson, S.M., Jeffee, R.H. and Von Bonen , G.: Macroglossia in children; review of literature, report of case of true muscular hypertrophy and suggested classification. Amer. J. Dis. Child.54: 1328, Dec. 1937.
3.
Bell, H.G. and Millar, R.G.: Congenital macroglossia; report of 2 cases. Surgery24: 125, July 1948.
4.
Koop, C.E. and Moschakis, E.A.: Capillary lymphangioma of the tongue complicated by glossitis. Pediatrics27: 800, May 1961.
5.
Hendrick, J.W. : Macroglossia or giant tongue; case report. Surgery39: 674, April 1956.
6.
Magee, R.B.: Macroglossia, a method of plastic repair. Amer. J. Surg.103: 632, May 1962.
7.
Nelson, Waldo E., ed.: Textbook of Pediatrics , 8th ed. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Co., 1964.
8.
Holcomb, G.W. , Jr.: Omphalocele. Amer. J. Surg.101: 598, May 1961.
9.
Pannullo, J.N. : Congenital macroglossia; report of a case. Obstet. Gynec.7: 97, January 1956.
10.
Bagnoli, S. and Zampi, G.: La macroglossia congenita: documentazioni cito-biometriche in un caso di macroglossia musculaire. Arch. de Vecchi Anat. Pat.26: 179, June 1957.
11.
Gross, Robert E.: Surgery of Infancy and Childhood. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Co., 1953.
Hutchin, P. and Goldenberg, I.S.: Surgical therapy of omphalocele and gastrochisis . Arch. Surg.90: 22, January 1965.
14.
Raffensperger, J.G., Frecark, R.J. and Fell, E.H.: Neonatal surgery at the Cook County Hospital; review of the period 1954 to 1958. Amer. J. Surg.107: 792, June 1964.
15.
Eckstein, H.B. : Exomphlos, a review of 100 cases. Brit. J. Surg.50: 405, July 1963.
16.
Georgeacopoulas, A.: A propos de deux case de "macroglossie congenitale ." Rev. Laryng.75: 548, July-Aug. 1954.
17.
Abelson, S.M. , Brody, A.G., Bronstein, I.P. and Schreiber , S.L.: Muscular macroglossia, 5-year observation with cephalometric and speech studies in case of spontaneous resolution. Amer. J. Dis. Child.62: 624, Sept. 1954.
18.
Baden, E. and Pierce, H.E.: Angular cheilosis and macroglossia; report of a case. Oral Surg. 8: 100, March 1955.
19.
Edgerton, M.T. : Management of macroglossia when associated with prognathism. Brit. J. Plast. Surg.3: 117, July 22, 1950.
Combs, J.T. , Grunt, J.A. and Brandt, 1. K.: New syndrome of neonatal hypoglycemia. Association with visceromegaly, macroglossia, microcephaly and abnormal umbilicus. New Eng. J. Med.275: 236, Aug. 4, 1966.
22.
Beckwith, J.B. , Wang, C.I., Donnell, G.N. and Gwinn, J.L.: Hyperplastic fetal visceromegaly with macroglossia, omphalocele, cytomegaly of adrenal fetal cortex, postnatal somatic. gigantism and other abnormalities; newly recognized syndrome. Proccedings of the American Pediatric Society, Seattle, Wash., June 16-18, 1964 (Abstract No. 41).