Pronounced: Gloss –ek-to-me
A glossectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the tongue. The surgery may be:
This surgery is used to treat tongue cancer . It is done when other treatments have not been successful.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have glossectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
Your doctor may do the following:
Leading up to the surgery:
General anesthesia will be used. It will block any pain and keep you asleep through the surgery.
If part of the tongue needs to be removed, the doctor will remove this cancerous section. The remaining area of the tongue will be sewn so that there is no hole. Sometimes, a small graft of skin will be used to fill the hole. This skin graft will then be sewn into place.
If the entire tongue needs to be removed, this is a more complicated surgery. The doctor will remove the diseased tongue. A piece of skin from your wrist will also be removed. This skin graft will be placed in the hole left by the tongue. Blood vessels will also be attached from any remaining tongue to the graft. This is to ensure blood flow. Sometimes the lymph nodes in the neck will also need to be removed.
Several hours
Anesthesia will prevent pain during the surgery. You will have pain during recovery. Ask your doctor about medicine to help with the pain.
7-10 days
While recovering at the hospital, you may receive the following care:
In addition, your doctor may have you:
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
After you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
National Cancer Institute
http://www.nci.nih.gov/
Oral Cancer Foundation
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
References:
Fujimoto, Yet al. Swallowing Function Following Extensive Resection of Oral or Oropharyngeal Cancer With Laryngeal Suspension and Cricopharyngeal Myotomy. Laryngoscope. 117(8):1343-1348, August 2007.
Glossectomy. Surgery Encyclopedia website. Available at: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Fi-La/Glossectomy.html. Accessed November 18, 2008.
Kimata Y, Uchiyama K, Ebihara S, et al. Postoperative complications and functional results after total glossectomy with microvascular reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 Oct;106(5):1028-35.
Mehta, Samir M.S.et al. Complications of the Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap in the Oral Cavity: A Prospective Evaluation of 220 Cases. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery: July 1996 - Volume 98 - Issue 1 - pp 31-37
Oral cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/types/oral. Accessed November 18, 2008.
Oral tongue cancer. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/oral-tongue-cancer/treatment.html. Accessed November 19, 2008.
Surgery. Oral Cancer Foundation website. Available at: http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/surgery.htm. Accessed November 18, 2008.
What you need to know about oral cancer, treatment. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/oral/page9. Updated September 2004. Accessed November 18, 2008.
Last reviewed November 2009 by Elie Edmond Rebiez, MD, FACS
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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