Tongue lesions in the pediatric population.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the spectrum of pediatric tongue lesions treated surgically at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center from January 1990 to December 1999.


METHODS
Retrospective case-series at the pediatric hospital of a tertiary care, academic medical center.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients were identified. Their ages ranged from 1 to 132 months (median, 7 months). Eight lesions were located anteriorly: mucous cyst (1), polyp (1), chronic inflammatory mass (1), hamartoma (1), squamous papilloma (2), cavernous hemangioma (1), and vascular malformation (1). Four lesions were located posteriorly: teratoma (1), glial choristoma (1), osseous choristoma (1), and benign epithelial cyst (1). Finally, there were 5 diffuse lesions including macroglossia (4) and massively infiltrating congenital lymphatic malformation (1). Symptoms included respiratory distress (3) and dysarthria (3); all other children were asymptomatic.


CONCLUSIONS
This series revealed an interesting spectrum of rare solid tumors; compared with other large series, fewer lymphatic and vascular malformations were seen. Presenting symptoms, differential diagnosis, and surgical approach were differentiated according to lesion location.
Horn
C
C
Department of Otolaryngology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Thaker
H M
HM
Tampakopoulou
D A
DA
De Serres
L M
LM
Keller
J L
JL
Haddad
J
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008260:Macroglossia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*