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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Objectification of Tongue Diagnosis in Traditional Medicine, Data Analysis, and Study Application
Published on: April 14, 2023
Anterior Tongue Microglossia: Impact on Face Development
Robert D Wallace1, Jordi Puente-Espel1, Jerome W Thompson2
1Department of Plastic Surgery.
Abstract:
Microglossia is an extremely rare developmental condition that might impact the patient's respiratory, feeding and speech functions, in addition to other intraoral structures. Embryologically, the tongue has 2 origins, which when affected, will determine whether the patient has microglossia or aglossia. A multidisciplinary team should adopt an organized approach based on confirmation by direct laryngoscopy, determination whether associated airway anomalies, mandibular deformities are present; followed by assessment of the ventilatory and feeding status. The involvement of multiple factors, the presence of several anatomical anomalies and the growth exerted by patients, confer microglossia a rather dynamic clinical entity. Two cases of microglossia depicting these features are presented along with review of the literature and a management algorithm.
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