Other names: macroglossia, enlarged tongue

Symptom big tongue is known as macroglossia. Macroglossia can have many causes.

In adulthood may become enlarged tongue for example acromegaly – a disease that results from the overproduction of growth hormone in adulthood, after the closure of growth plates (children would be overproduction of growth hormone emerged as gigantism – the child has grown tremendously).

Causes of acromegaly are several. Most often they are adenoma pituitary, rarely it is a small cell lung cancer (very poor prognosis) and a carcinoid tumor.

The symptoms of acromegaly are: large tongue and teeth spacing, joint pain, diabetes and the like. When increases tongue, teeth away from each other, growing end portion of the body, it is advisable to visit the doctor.

Other times it may be a macroglossia in metabolic disorders, they are diagnosed in the context of other important and symptoms. Other times it can be a jaw anomaly.

There is also a congenital syndrome, whose main symptoms are enlarged tongue – Beckwithův- Wiedemann syndrome. This syndrome is associated with gigantism, big tongue and navel abnormalities. Again, it notes the doctor either at the hospital or later during preventive inspections.

In conclusion, we can summarize that if you catch an enlarged tongue, it is advisable to see a doctor.