[A case report of macroglossia following tongue bite (author's transl)].

A variety of congenital or acquired diseases may cause macroglossia. We report the case study of a 25 year old patient with Down's Syndrome who developed macroglossia after injury to the tongue from a self-inflicted bite. Conservative therapy for one month through wound revision, antibiotics and antiphlogistics was only successful in controlling infection but failed to prevent the occurrence of a massive macroglossia. This latter problem could only be managed through reconstructive surgery. Histological studies of tissue taken from the tongue revealed the presence of an interstitial edema containing protein, but without evidence for mucopolysaccharides, glycogen or amyloid. A network of dilated blood and lymphatic vessels with partial stenoses caused by organized thrombosis and proliferation of endothelial cells could be observed, suggesting the presence of a congenital lymphangio-hemangioma. However, we believe that these findings were the result of the obliteration of lymphatic and blood vessels through trauma and inflammation to produce the patient's macroglossia.