glossectomy
Meaning of glossectomy: Glossectomy removes part or all of the tongue, most often to treat cancer arising from the tongue's tissue.
Definition of glossectomy
Glossectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the tongue. The extent of surgery ranges from a partial glossectomy, which removes a limited area of tissue, to a total glossectomy, which removes the entire tongue, depending on the size and location of the disease being treated.
The procedure is most often performed to treat cancer of the tongue, with the goal of removing the tumor along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue. Because the tongue plays a central role in speech, swallowing, and taste, glossectomy can affect these functions, and reconstructive surgery or rehabilitation, such as speech and swallowing therapy, is often part of the overall treatment plan.
The extent of functional change after glossectomy generally relates to how much of the tongue is removed and which portions are affected.
Used in a sentence
A partial glossectomy was performed to remove the tumor with clear surgical margins.
Good to know
The functional impact of glossectomy on speech and swallowing depends heavily on how much of the tongue is removed and its location, so a partial glossectomy and a total glossectomy can have very different outcomes.
Word origin
Where “glossectomy” comes from
Formed from glosso-, from Greek glossa, meaning "tongue," and -ectomy, from Greek ektome, meaning "a cutting out."