Glossectomy
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| Glossectomy | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | {{#Statements:p1995}} |
| ICD-9-CM | 25.2-25.4 |
| MeSH | D005927 |
A glossectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the tongue. It is performed in order to curtail malignant growth such as oral cancer. When only a portion of the tongue needs to be removed, the procedure is called a partial removal, or hemiglossectomy. When the entire tongue needs to be removed, the procedure is called a total glossectomy. A midline glossectomy is a surgical reduction of the size of the base of the tongue (posterior two-thirds of the tongue), sometimes used to treat sleep apnea.[citation needed]
If the size of the resulting defect is too large, patients may have difficulty with speaking or swallowing. In this case, the patient may benefit from a free flap to restore volume in the missing portion of the tongue.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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