Functional outcomes in children with reduction glossectomy for vascular malformations – “less is more!”

OBJECTIVES: Vascular malformation (VM) of the tongue can cause true macroglossia in children. Reduction glossectomy provides primary relief when sclerotherapy has failed or is not possible. In this study, we evaluated the surgical role in functional outcome of reduction glossectomy performed for VM of the tongue. Patients and Methods We evaluated the functional and surgical outcomes of seven children who were treated at a tertiary care centre in Southern India between 2013 and 2018. RESULTS: Six children underwent median glossectomy, while one child underwent lateral glossectomy. Functional assessment was performed at least 2 years after the date of surgery. At the time of assessment, speech was comprehensible for three children and was occasionally unintelligible in four children. Taste and swallowing were normal in all seven children. Six children exhibited a minimal residual lesion after surgery, of which only one was symptomatic. Residual lesions were managed with sclerotherapy (n=3), observation (n=2), or repeat surgery (n=1). CONCLUSION: Reduction glossectomy in children with macroglossia secondary to VMs has acceptable outcomes in terms of cosmesis and speech, with no gastronomic restriction.