Geographic Tongue Workup

  • Author: Robert D Kelsch, DMD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 16, 2012
 

Procedures

A biopsy is not usually necessary, given the characteristic clinical presentation of geographic tongue.

Next

Histologic Findings

The histologic findings in geographic tongue are identical to those seen in pustular psoriasis.[17] At the periphery, elongation of the rete ridges is noted with associated hyperparakeratosis and acanthosis. Toward the center of the lesion, corresponding to the erythematous area clinically, loss of filiform papillae with migration and clustering of neutrophils within the epithelium (spongiform pustule) is seen. The predominant inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria is neutrophils with an admixture of chronic inflammatory cells.

Previous
Proceed to Treatment & Management
 
 
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: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster 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

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

References

  1. Kleinman DV, Swango PA, Pindborg JJ. Epidemiology of oral mucosal lesions in United States schoolchildren: 1986-87. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. Aug 1994;22(4):243-53. [Medline].

  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].

 
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.