Geographic Tongue (migratory glossitis)

Diagnosis: Geographic Tongue (migratory glossitis)

Areas of hyperkeratosis alternate with areas of normal pink epithelium, creating a geographic pattern.

Clinical Presentation

Areas of hyperkeratosis alternate with areas of normal pink epithelium, creating a geographic pattern.

Clinical History

Submitted by Alaa Saad. Originally posted January 18, 2011.

Treatment

See case discussion.

Differential Diagnosis

• Oral candidiasis • Oral lichen planus • Leukoplakia • Secondary syphilis • Erythematous psoriasis (oral) • Vitamin deficiency glossitis

Key Learnings

• Also known as benign migratory glossitis or erythema migrans lingualis • Smooth, erythematous patches with white serpiginous borders that migrate over time • Loss of filiform papillae in affected areas • Benign and self-limiting — often discovered incidentally • May be associated with fissured tongue and psoriasis • Affects ~1-3% of population • Histology resembles pustular psoriasis (spongiform pustules of Kogoj)

Tags: geographic, tongue, migratory, glossitis, alaa saad