A method for determination of tongue size in patients with mandibular prognathism.

Introduction: The view on the role of the tongue in the etiology of dentofacial malformations and relapse after orthognathic surgery has changed over years.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and metric size of the tongue in patients with madibular prognathism in comparison with persons with normal face anatomy.
Materials and Methods: A noninvasive study was conducted at the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University in Lódź. We enrolled 152 patients and divided them into two groups: I - study group with mandibular prognathism, II - control group without dentofacial malformations.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the clinical size of the tongue in the study and control groups. A large tongue was more often detected in the study than the control group. The frequency of small tongue was similar in both groups.
Conclusions: Patients with mandibular prognathism have a larger tongue in comparison with normal individuals.