Tongue hypoplasia in a newborn.

Congenital anomalies of the tongue are uncommon. Since de Jussieu first described lingual hypoplasia in 1719, fewer than 50 cases have been described. These are usually in association with the hypoglossia-hypodactylia syndrome. We present a case of a newborn with absent anterior tongue, a rudimentary posterior remnant and associated micrognathia. Embryology and theories of pathogenesis are discussed.