Geographic Tongue Treatment & Management

  • Author: Robert D Kelsch, DMD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 4, 2010
 

Medical Care

No medical intervention is required because the lesion is benign and most often asymptomatic.[18] However, Abe et al report successful treatment with cyclosporin,[19] and Sigal and Mock reported treatment with topical and systemic antihistamines.[20] Topical retinoids and topical corticosteroids are occasionally of benefit. In psoriatic patients, the lesions may resolve during systemic therapy for the psoriasis.

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Consultations

Consultation with an oral pathologist is indicated if a question exists about the diagnosis.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert D Kelsch, DMD  Attending, Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, NSLIJ Health System, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Robert D Kelsch, DMD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Abdul-Ghani Kibbi, MD  Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon

Disclosure: none None None

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS  Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Research Associates of Cincinnati

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, and American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Shulman JD. Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in children and youths in the USA. Int J Paediatr Dent. Mar 2005;15(2):89-97. [Medline].

  3. Cambiaghi S, Colonna C, Cavalli R. Geographic tongue in two children with nonpustular psoriasis. Pediatr Dermatol. Jan-Feb 2005;22(1):83-5. [Medline].

  4. Zargari O. The prevalence and significance of fissured tongue and geographical tongue in psoriatic patients. Clin Exp Dermatol. Mar 2006;31(2):192-5. [Medline].

  5. Zhu JF, Kaminski MJ, Pulitzer DR, Hu J, Thomas HF. Psoriasis: pathophysiology and oral manifestations. Oral Dis. Jun 1996;2(2):135-44. [Medline].

  6. Costa SC, Hirota SK, Takahashi MD, Andrade H Jr, Migliari DA. Oral lesions in 166 patients with cutaneous psoriasis: a controlled study. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. Aug 1 2009;14(8):e371-5. [Medline].

  7. Hernandez-Perez F, Jaimes-Aveldanez A, Urquizo-Ruvalcaba Mde L, et al. Prevalence of oral lesions in patients with psoriasis. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. Nov 1 2008;13(11):E703-8. [Medline].

  8. Shulman JD, Carpenter WM. Prevalence and risk factors associated with geographic tongue among US adults. Oral Dis. Jul 2006;12(4):381-6. [Medline].

  9. Yarom N, Cantony U, Gorsky M. Prevalence of fissured tongue, geographic tongue and median rhomboid glossitis among Israeli adults of different ethnic origins. Dermatology. 2004;209(2):88-94. [Medline].

  10. Dar-Odeh NS, Hayajneh WA, Abu-Hammad OA, et al. Orofacial findings in chronic granulomatous disease: report of twelve patients and review of the literature. BMC Res Notes. Feb 17 2010;3(1):37. [Medline].

  11. Gonzaga HF, Torres EA, Alchorne MM, Gerbase-Delima M. Both psoriasis and benign migratory glossitis are associated with HLA-Cw6. Br J Dermatol. Sep 1996;135(3):368-70. [Medline].

  12. Fenerli A, Papanicolaou S, Papanicolaou M, Laskaris G. Histocompatibility antigens and geographic tongue. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. Oct 1993;76(4):476-9. [Medline].

  13. Jainkittivong A, Langlais RP. Geographic tongue: clinical characteristics of 188 cases. J Contemp Dent Pract. Feb 15 2005;6(1):123-35. [Medline].

  14. Borrie F, Musthyala R, Macintyre D. Ectopic geographic tongue--a case report. Dent Update. Mar 2007;34(2):121-2. [Medline].

  15. Morris LF, Phillips CM, Binnie WH, Sander HM, Silverman AK, Menter MA. Oral lesions in patients with psoriasis: a controlled study. Cutis. May 1992;49(5):339-44. [Medline].

  16. Eidelman E, Chosack A, Cohen T. Scrotal tongue and geographic tongue: polygenic and associated traits. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. Nov 1976;42(5):591-6. [Medline].

  17. Assimakopoulos D, Patrikakos G, Fotika C, Elisaf M. Benign migratory glossitis or geographic tongue: an enigmatic oral lesion. Am J Med. Dec 15 2002;113(9):751-5. [Medline].

  18. Reamy BV, Derby R, Bunt CW. Common tongue conditions in primary care. Am Fam Physician. Mar 1 2010;81(5):627-34. [Medline].

  19. Abe M, Sogabe Y, Syuto T, Ishibuchi H, Yokoyama Y, Ishikawa O. Successful treatment with cyclosporin administration for persistent benign migratory glossitis. J Dermatol. May 2007;34(5):340-3. [Medline].

  20. Sigal MJ, Mock D. Symptomatic benign migratory glossitis: report of two cases and literature review. Pediatr Dent. Nov-Dec 1992;14(6):392-6. [Medline].

 
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