Glossopalatine Ankylosis

Glossopalatine ankylosis is a disorder belonging to the group of oromandibular-limb hypogenesis syndromes (OLHS) and is characterised by the presence of an intraoral band of variable thickness attaching the tongue to the hard palate or maxillary alveolar ridge.

Epidemiology

The syndrome is very rare with less than 30 cases reported in the literature so far.

Clinical description

Associated anomalies include cleft palate (in which case the tongue may be attached to the nasal septum), mandibular hypoplasia, upper-lip hypoplasia, hypodontia and variable limb anomalies (oligodactyly, syndactyly and polydactyly (see these terms), as well as more severe limb malformations).

Etiology

The aetiology is unknown and the syndrome appears to be sporadic.