Congenital Absence of Uvula: Case Report

Authors

  • Moheem Masumali Halari Assistant Professor, All Saints University School of Medicine, Hillsborough Street, P.o.box 1679, Roseau, Dominica.
  • Chidambra Dhariwal Halari Assistant Professor, All Saints University School of Medicine, Hillsborough Street, P.o.box 1679, Roseau, Dominica.
  • Ryan Alex Francis D'Souza Medical Student, All Saints University School of Medicine, Hillsborough Street, P.o.box 1679, Roseau, Dominica.

Keywords:

Uvula, Congenital absence, Congenital abnormality, Traditional Uvulectomy, All Saints University School of Medicine, Dominica, Health Fair.

Abstract

Traditional Uvulectomy has been an age-long practice throughout Africa and certain parts of the Middle East. It is performed as a treatment to prevent throat infections for centuries and is carried out usually during infancy and childhood. Uvula is a fleshy projection hanging at the back of the throat from the posterior margin of the soft palate. Congenital absence of uvula has been observed to be associated with other congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate. This case report concerns a 26 year old male from Nigeria, examined at a health fair conducted at All Saints University School of Medicine in Dominica who on an incidental finding was diagnosed with the absence of uvula without any other abnormality nor a history of uvulectomy. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case in medical literature of the congenital absence of uvula in a patient with no other known abnormalities.

References

[1] Romanes GJ. Cunningham’s Manual of Practical Anatomy Volume Three. 15th edn, Oxford Medical Publications; 2003: p 137.
[2] Achalli S, Bhat S, Ram Shetty S, Babu SG, Survarna R. “Deformities of the Uvula in the Oral Cavity- A Case Series” Iran Red Crescent Medical Journal, 2012;14:676-679.
[3] Greenberg MS, Glick M. Burket's Oral Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. 10th edn. Philadelphia: BC Decker; 2002. p. 21.
[4] Sperber GH, Tobias PV. Craniofacial Embryology. 4th edn. Wright; p. 141.
[5] Berkowitz S. Cleft Lip And Palate: Diagnosis And Management. 2nd edn, Springer: p 9.
[6] Tshifularo M, Joseph CA. “Post-tonsillectomy Haemorrhage Following Traditional Uvulectomy in an Adult Patient” SA Fam Pract, 2005;47(1).

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Published

2016-05-14

How to Cite

Halari, M. M., Halari, C. D., & D’Souza, R. A. F. (2016). Congenital Absence of Uvula: Case Report. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 19(1), 119–121. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/1669

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