Overview
Macroglossia is a congenital disorder where the tongue is larger than normal. It is enlarged because of an increase in the amount of tissue, not because of a tumor or growth. There is also a perceived macroglossia in Down syndrome possibly because the tongue frequently protrudes.
Review Date 4/5/2025
Updated by: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.