Abstract
We present a 69-year-old male patient with the macroglossia, dysphagia and generalized edema. He was seen previously by other physicians and diagnosed as hypothyroidism. With thyroid stimulating hormone in normal range, tongue biopsy revealed primary systemic amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is the most common cause of macroglossia. Primary systemic amyloidosis should be suspected when laboratory does not support hypothyroidism especially if the enlarged tongue is firm and additional findings are present.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angiero F, Seramondi R, Magistro S, Crippa R, Benedicenti S, Rizzardi C, Cattoretti G. The role of tongue biopsy: amyloid deposition in the tongue: clinical and histopathological profile. Anticancer Res. 2010;30(7):3009–14.
Merlini G, Westermark P. The systemic amyloidoses: clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms offers hope for more effective therapies. J Intern Med. 2004;255:159–78.
Lebowitz RA, Morris L. Plasma cell dyscrasias and amyloidosis. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2003;36:747–64.
Gertz MA, Merlini G, Treon SP. Amyloidosis and Walderström’s macroglobulinemia. Hematol Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2004;2004:257–82.
Falk RH. Diagnosis and management of the cardiac amyloidoses. Circulation. 2005;112(13):2047–60.
Financial support
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alimoglu, Y., Sacli, F.S. & Erdamar, S. Macroglossia and Generalized Edema not Due to Hypothyroidism. Dysphagia 27, 291–293 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-011-9372-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-011-9372-y