Autoamputation of the tongue

Autoamputation is an uncommon phenomenon that has been reported for the fin gers, toes, appendix, ovary, spleen, etc, Autoamputation of the tongue has never been reported. An elderly man with carcinoma of lateral pharyngeal wa ll and tonsil presented with an autoamputated tongue that was attached to t he oral cavity with a thin band. The patient required detachment of the ton gue and tracheostomy followed by radiotherapy for the primary tumour.