An anatomic-functional classification of tongue resections considering adjacent oral structures

Introduction. Oral tongue cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. Despite the widespread use of the term “glossectomy”, there is no uniform approach to its interpretation in clinical practice, as existing classifications of tongue resections do not always reflect the actual extent of surgical intervention and the involvement of adjacent anatomical structures, which complicates standardization of surgical descriptions and comparability of clinical data.

Aim. To develop an anatomic – functional classification of tongue resections expanding the system proposed by M. Ansarin et al., taking into account the involvement of adjacent oral structures and clinically significant functional consequences of surgical intervention.

Materials and methods. An analytical review of domestic and international literature devoted to the surgical treatment of tongue cancer and existing classifications of tongue resections was performed. Based on anatomical and functional analysis, as well as the principles of compartment surgery, an anatomic – functional classification of tongue resections expanding the system proposed by M. Ansarin et al. (2019) was developed.

Results. The proposed classification has an extended hierarchical structure. Roman numerals (0–IV) indicate the extent of tongue resection, capital letters (A–C) denote the involvement of adjacent structures (floor of the mouth, lateral oropharyngeal wall, mandibular alveolar ridge), and lowercase letters (a–c) specify the localization of the defect within the mobile tongue in cases of partial resections.

Conclusion. The proposed anatomic – functional classification of tongue resections combines anatomical precision with clinical applicability. It accounts for the involvement of adjacent oral structures and allows the use of combined resection subtypes, which is particularly relevant in locally advanced tumors. The classification improves the reproducibility of describing the extent of surgical intervention and may serve as a basis for structured assessment of expected functional consequences of resection, as well as a reference for planning the reconstructive stage of treatment.