eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Oral Mucosa

Fissured Tongue: Follow-up

Author: Robert D Kelsch, DMD, Consulting Staff, Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 11, 2008

Follow-up

Complications

Complications are not associated with the fissured tongue per se but are noted in association with the manifestations of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.

Patient Education

Inform patients that this is a frequent finding and no specific therapy is required, aside from that necessary to treat the manifestations of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, if present.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

Because this condition is common in the general population, the diagnosis is easily made, and no medical intervention is required, no medicolegal issues are identified.

Special Concerns

This condition is observed in patients of all ages and has no impact on the general systemic health of the patient, unless it is associated with Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Fissured Tongue

Overview: Fissured Tongue
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Fissured Tongue
Treatment & Medication: Fissured Tongue
Follow-up: Fissured Tongue
References
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References

  1. Stein SL, Mancini AJ. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome in childhood: successful management with combination steroid and minocycline therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 1999;41(5 Pt 1):746-8. [Medline].

  2. Alioglu Z, Caylan R, Adanir M, Ozmenoglu M. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: report of three cases. Neurol Sci. Feb 2000;21(1):57-60. [Medline].

  3. Gerressen M, Ghassemi A, Stockbrink G, Riediger D, Zadeh MD. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: case report of a 30-year misdiagnosis. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Jul 2005;63(7):1035-9. [Medline].

  4. Kovac-Kovacic M, Skaleric U. The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in a population in Ljubljana, Slovenia. J Oral Pathol Med. Aug 2000;29(7):331-5. [Medline].

  5. 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].

  6. Rogers RS. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome and orofacial granulomatosis. Dermatol Clin. Apr 1996;14(2):371-9. [Medline].

  7. Kullaa-Mikkonen A, Sorvari T. Lingua fissurata. A clinical, stereomicroscopic and histopathological study. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Oct 1986;15(5):525-33. [Medline].

  8. Nakane T, Hatakeyama K, Nakamura K, Aihara M, Nakazawa S. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome with isolated immunoglobulin E hypogammaglobulinaemia. J Int Med Res. Nov-Dec 2007;35(6):922-5. [Medline].

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

  10. Tan O, Atik B, Calka O. Plastic surgical solutions for melkersson-rosenthal syndrome: facial liposuction and cheiloplasty procedures. Ann Plast Surg. Mar 2006;56(3):268-73. [Medline].

  11. 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].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

fissured tongue, scrotal tongue, lingua plicata, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, Down syndrome, benign migratory glossitis, geographic tongue

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert D Kelsch, DMD, Consulting Staff, Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, 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.

Medical Editor

Jean Paul Ortonne, MD, Chair, Department of Dermatology, Professor, Hospital L'Archet, Nice University, France
Jean Paul Ortonne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Dermatological Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

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.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine 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.

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