Unfused hypoplastic tongue in a newborn.
Malformations of the tongue are rare. There are < 50 cases of tongue hypoplasia reported in the literature since the first case described by de Jussieu in 1718. These are usually associated with the hypoglossia-hypodactaly syndrome. We describe a newborn with a hypoplastic anterior tongue unfused to the posterior tongue and airway obstruction. Its embryology, theories of pathogenesis, treatment and clinical course are discussed.
Tan
H K
HK
Department of Otolaryngology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. enttankk@leonis.nus.edu.sg
Smith
J D
JD
Goh
D Y
DY
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014059:Tongue / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery