Tongue Transplanted Successfully

Doctors in Vienna have carried out the first successful tongue transplant on a human being, the hospital where the surgery took place said Monday.

An unidentified 42-year-old man suffering from a malignant tumor affecting his tongue and jaw underwent a 14-hour operation at Vienna's General Hospital on Saturday in which doctors removed the tumor and attached the new tongue, hospital spokeswoman Karin Fehringer said.

The patient is in good condition, Fehringer said.

No further details were immediately available, but the hospital said a medical team would provide more information Tuesday.