The information contained within the Grand Rounds Archive is intended for use by doctors and other health care professionals. These documents were prepared by resident physicians for presentation and discussion at a conference held at The Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. No guarantees are made with respect to accuracy or timeliness of this material.
Macroglossia is tongue enlargement that leads to functional and cosmetic problems.
Although this is a relatively uncommon disorder, it may cause significant morbidity. There is no clear definition of macroglossia and it may be defined in relative, functional, or structural terms. Clinical studies are limited by this lack of a clear definition. Normal speech and swallowing require normal tongue anatomy and function. Swallowing begins as the tongue mixes food with saliva to form a food bolus, which is then propelled into the pharynx by the tongue.