Geographic tongue
Tongue disorder / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Geographic tongue, also known by several other terms,[note 1] is a condition of the mucous membrane of the tongue, usually on the dorsal surface. It is a common condition, affecting approximately 2–3% of the general population.[2][7] It is characterized by areas of smooth, red depapillation (loss of lingual papillae) which migrate over time. The name comes from the map-like appearance of the tongue,[8] with the patches resembling the islands of an archipelago.[2] The cause is unknown, but the condition is entirely benign (importantly, it does not represent oral cancer), and there is no curative treatment. Uncommonly, geographic tongue may cause a burning sensation on the tongue, for which various treatments have been described with little formal evidence of efficacy.
Geographic tongue | |
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A patient with geographic tongue | |
Specialty | Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dermatology |
Symptoms | Burning sensation (rare) |
Causes | Unknown |
Diagnostic method | Visual examination |
Differential diagnosis | Oral lichen planus, erythematous candidiasis, leukoplakia, glossitis, and chemical burns |
Prevention | None |
Treatment | Reassurance, time |
Medication | None |
Frequency | 2-3% |
Deaths | None |