A case report of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tongue base treated with a median glossotomy

DOI

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 舌正中離断法で切除した舌根部粘表皮癌例

Search this article

Abstract

<p>　Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the tongue base, but minor salivary gland tumors are rare.<br>　The first-line treatment for minor salivary gland tumors, such as mucoepidermoid carcinomas, is radical resection. Many surgical approaches, including the transoral or external approach, are available for resecting tumors of the tongue base. Surgeons select the most suitable approach depending on the size, histological composition, and degree of invasion of the tumor.<br>　In the present case, a 77-year-old man with a 2-month history of dysphagia presented with a comparatively large tumor on the tongue base, which was biopsy-confirmed to be a mucoepidermoid carcinoma. CT and PET-CT revealed no lymph node swelling; therefore, the patient underwent tumor resection with a median glossotomy. The tumor was successfully removed by bisecting the tongue along the median raphe. The patient was discharged 18 days after the surgery. No adjuvant therapy was offered because histological examination of the specimen revealed it was a low-grade, mucoepidermoid carcinoma. At the 16-month follow-up, the patient reported no functional disorders or tumor recurrence.<br>　The median glossotomy is a very useful technique to approach tumors of the tongue base. Compared to other procedures, it is less invasive and does not require any special surgical support devices.</p>

Journal

  • Stomato-pharyngology

    Stomato-pharyngology 30 (1), 117-122, 2017

    Japan Society of Stomato-pharyngology

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top