Partial Glossectomy in Cats

A partial glossectomy in cats is a form of tongue surgery involving amputating a portion of the lingual organ. Surgery of a cat’s tongue is commonly performed as a treatment of malignant or benign tumors. In cats, the squamous cell carcinoma is the most highly reported tumor type to affect felines. Oral carcinomas are fast-growing and the prognosis is grave if the problem is not identified promptly. A veterinarian can identify this type of growth under routine physical examination or during a dental cleaning. The feline doctor will then either schedule a date to perform the glossectomy procedure or refer you to a feline oral specialist.

A partial glossectomy in cats involves an amputation of the tongue roughly 2cm caudal to the lingual lesions. The veterinarian will begin by using a surgical marker to mark the proposed site of glossectomy. To aid in the prevention of hemorrhaging, a Doyen clamp will be placed caudal to the site of resection. The veterinarian begins the amputation of one side of the tongue, ligating the lingual vessels as the doctor comes upon them and advancing the incision. Sutures are placed intermittently focusing on suturing the dorsal aspect to the ventral aspect of the tongue’s mucosa. 

The partially dissected tongue will likely be biopsied and sent to a laboratory. Collaborations with an oncologist will likely be sought later on as the histopathological results are made. 

The efficacy of a feline partial glossectomy has good results for the resection of a lingual tumor. If the resection is confined to the dorsocaudal or free rostral portions of the tongue, the prognosis remains very positive.

After the partial glossectomy is performed, postoperative pain is controlled through a combination of long-acting anesthetics, opioids, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Antibiotics are not necessary if the feline is otherwise healthy, but a broad-spectrum antibiotic may be given to those with underlying disease. Water will be offered to the patient after anesthesia and the feline will be allowed a soft food diet 12 to 24 hours after surgery. Felines are often given an esophagostomy tube, which allows food to pass the oral cavity directly into the stomach, to ensure proper nutrition. If skin sutures were placed, the feline will be reexamined at two weeks postoperatively and a follow-up appointment will take place at about two to six months after the initial examination. 

The price a cat owner should expect to pay for a partial glossectomy in cats is about $325. Any biopsied tissues and postoperative medications should be added to this total surgical price, which is roughly an extra $50 to $100. 

When considering a partial glossectomy in a cat, pet owners should be aware of possible surgical complications such as grooming difficulties, heat stress, tongue necrosis, ptyalism, prehension difficulties, postoperative dehiscence, and/or intraoperative hemorrhaging. Although common, the majority of the listed complications are short-lived and most cats adapt to the surgically altered lingual area. 

Preventing the need for a feline partial glossectomy is difficult, as the cause of cancer is unknown. Nearly 10% of all feline tumors are found in the oral cavity with squamous cell carcinomas being the most common type to inflict felines. These types of tumors are fast growing and the prognosis is grave, so early detection is vital in all cases.