[Successful radiation therapy of macroglossy: a clinical case study (author's transl)]

In this paper we present the results of radiotherapy in a case of severe macroglossy in a 14-year-old girl. Before radiotherapy, two surgical interventions (so-called wedge formed resections) had been performed. In spite of these surgical procedures the tongue continued growing. The tongue remained hypertrophic and became more voluminous. Speach, breathing and nourishment became quite impossible, and salivation was very intensive and insupportable. The patient had to be nourished by a nasal tube. To avoid suffocation, tracheotomy had to be performed. Histopathological finding of the operated tissue of the tongue was: Striated musculature and granulations. During radiotherapy, amelioration of symptoms occurred after the first sessions. Total dose by two series of irradiation was 6650 r skin dose under orthovoltage conditions. The final good effect could be observed not earlier than 8 months after radiotherapy.