Glossectomy

A glossectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the tongue.

It is performed in order to curtail malignant growth such as oral cancer.

Often only a portion of the tongue needs to be removed, in which case the procedure is called a partial removal, or hemiglossectomy.

A midline glossectomy is a surgical reduction of the size of the base of the tongue (posterior tongue), sometimes used to treat sleep apnea.

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