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1.
J Vet Diagn Invest ; 31(5): 783-787, 2019 Sep.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31347467

Rhodococcus equi infection in horses is common and is characterized by pyogranulomatous pneumonia and ulcerative enterocolitis. R. equi clinical disease in cattle, however, is rare and typically manifests as granulomatous lymphadenitis discovered in the abattoir. A 19-mo-old female Santa Gertrudis had a history of intermittent inappetence and weight loss for a 3-mo period before euthanasia. Gross and histologic examination revealed severe, chronic, ulcerative, and granulomatous inflammation in the tongue, pharynx, and small intestine. Also, the heifer had severe, granulomatous pharyngeal and mesenteric lymphadenitis. Bacterial cultures from the ileum, tongue, and liver yielded numerous-to-moderate numbers of R. equi. PCR analysis of the isolate detected the linear virulence plasmid vapN, which is often identified in bovine isolates (traA- and vapN-positive). The bacteria also lack the circular plasmids vapA and vapB that are associated with virulence in horses and swine, respectively. We report herein an atypical and unusual clinical presentation of R. equi infection in cattle, which has zoonotic potential.


Actinomycetales Infections/veterinary , Cattle Diseases/diagnosis , Enteritis/veterinary , Glossitis/veterinary , Rhodococcus equi/isolation & purification , Actinomycetales Infections/diagnosis , Actinomycetales Infections/microbiology , Animals , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/microbiology , Enteritis/diagnosis , Enteritis/microbiology , Fatal Outcome , Female , Glossitis/diagnosis , Glossitis/microbiology , Granuloma/diagnosis , Granuloma/microbiology , Granuloma/veterinary , Ulcer/diagnosis , Ulcer/microbiology , Ulcer/veterinary
2.
J Vet Med Sci ; 81(2): 274-278, 2019 Feb 28.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30606907

Five-day-old neonatal piglets presented with debilitation and ananastasia. At the necropsy of one piglet, the apex of the tongue was found to be discolored dark red, and disseminated white foci were found on the cut surface. Many white foci were also found in the lungs and on the serosa of the liver and spleen. Histopathological findings revealed multifocal necrotic glossitis and pneumonia with Gram-negative bacilli. The bacilli were identified as Actinobacillus suis through immunohistochemical, biochemical, and genetic tests, including 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Although A. suis usually causes inflammation in thoracic and abdominal organs, lesions were also found in the tongue in the present case. This study is the first report of glossitis caused by A. suis.


Actinobacillus Infections/veterinary , Actinobacillus suis , Glossitis/veterinary , Sepsis/veterinary , Actinobacillus Infections/diagnosis , Actinobacillus Infections/pathology , Actinobacillus suis/genetics , Animals , Animals, Newborn/microbiology , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/pathology , Necrosis , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Sepsis/diagnosis , Sepsis/microbiology , Sepsis/pathology , Sequence Analysis, RNA/veterinary , Tongue/pathology
3.
Morphologie ; 102(339): 250-254, 2018 Dec.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30219545

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder resulting with many different complications including soft tissue abnormalities in the oral cavity such as periodontitis and salivary and taste dysfunction. Previous studies also reported fungal and bacterial infections in oral cavity in these patients. This study aims to represent three dimentional morphologic ultrastructural changes of the diabetic rat tongue via scanning electron microscopy. Twenty-four (24) adult male Spraque-Dawley rats, (weight ranging between 200-250g) included in the study were randomly assigned into two groups: control rats were injected with intraperitoneally saline alone, experimental diabetes group received streptozotocin (STZ) (80mg/kg) administrated intraperitoneally. On month four, by the end of experimental period, all animals of each group were anesthetised. All tongues were dissected totally, postfixed in 2% osmium tetroxide and then dried by critical point drying before SEM analysis. Finally, superficial epithelial configurations of the lingual papillae in experimental diabetic rats were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Diabetes mellitus caused thickness, hyperceratosis and different epithelial changes, We observed yeast-like structures and bacterial colonisations on the papillar and epithelial structure of the tongue. The morphological atrophic changes of lingual mucosa and the median rhomboid glossitis (which is primary finding of candidal infection) are characteristic observations on the lingual mucosa of the streptozotocin treated rats.


Candidiasis/pathology , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/pathology , Glossitis/pathology , Mouth Mucosa/ultrastructure , Tongue/ultrastructure , Animals , Atrophy/pathology , Candida/isolation & purification , Candidiasis/microbiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/chemically induced , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/complications , Glossitis/microbiology , Humans , Hyphae/isolation & purification , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Mouth Mucosa/microbiology , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Streptozocin/toxicity , Tongue/microbiology , Tongue/pathology
4.
BMC Oral Health ; 17(1): 153, 2017 Dec 16.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29246167

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the species of Candida that are important for the development of atrophic glossitis in xerostomia patients. METHODS: A total of 231 patients with subjective dry mouth were enrolled in the present study. Logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify the contribution of each Candida species and other variables to the development of atrophic glossitis. The dependent variable was the absence/presence of atrophic glossitis. The Candida colony-forming units (CFU) of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei, as well as age, gender, resting (RSFR) and stimulated (SSFR) whole salivary flow rate, and denture-wearing status, were treated as explanatory variables. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that two factors were closely associated with the presence of atrophic glossitis: an increase in C. albicans CFU and a decrease in the SSFR. CONCLUSIONS: C. albicans, but not non-albicans Candida, was associated with atrophic glossitis in xerostomia patients who had no systemic predisposing factors, indicating that C. albicans remains a treatment target for Candida-related atrophic glossitis.


Candida albicans/isolation & purification , Candida/isolation & purification , Candidiasis/microbiology , Glossitis/microbiology , Tongue/microbiology , Xerostomia/complications , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrophy , Candida/pathogenicity , Candidiasis/etiology , Colony Count, Microbial , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged
6.
Vet Microbiol ; 207: 74-82, 2017 Aug.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28757044

Metarhizium (M.) granulomatis (formerly Chamaeleomyces granulomatis) invariably causes fatal fungal glossitis and systemic mycosis in veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Isolation of M. granulomatis in other lizards thus far has not been described. The aim of this study therefore was to obtain information on the presence of M. granulomatis in reptiles kept as pets, and to examine whether there was an association between specific genotypes and clinical/pathological outcomes. Besides 18S ribosomal (r) DNA (SSU) and internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S (ITS1-5.8S) rDNA, a fragment of the large subunit of the 28S rDNA (LSU), including the domains 1 (D1) and D2, were sequenced for identification of the fungus and phylogenetic analysis. Metarhizium granulomatis was isolated from 23 veiled chameleons, two panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) and one central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). Only the veiled chameleons revealed corresponding pathological findings in the form of glossal hemorrhage, granulomatous glossitis, pharyngitis, dermatitis and/or visceral mycosis. The infection site correlated to survival times of infected veiled chameleons. Combined long-term treatment with terbinafine and nystatin based on susceptibility testing may be helpful for prevention of disease and visceral spreading of the fungus, but elimination of the fungal pathogen or successful treatment of diseased veiled chameleons have not been achieved yet. Sequencing of the ribosomal genes yielded five different genotypes, with genotype A being strongly correlated with dermatitis, and remaining genotypes with pharyngitis and glossitis. However, disseminated visceral mycosis developed irrespective of the genotypes.


Dermatomycoses/veterinary , Glossitis/veterinary , Lizards/microbiology , Metarhizium/isolation & purification , Viscera/microbiology , Animals , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Dermatomycoses/microbiology , Drug Resistance, Fungal , Glossitis/microbiology , Metarhizium/classification , Metarhizium/genetics , Phylogeny , Viscera/pathology
7.
Clin Dermatol ; 34(4): 487-94, 2016.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27343964

Oral candidiasis (OC) is a common fungal disease encountered in dermatology, most commonly caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans in the mouth. Although thrush is a well-recognized presentation of OC, it behooves clinicians to be aware of the many other presentations of this disease and how to accurately diagnose and manage these cases. The clinical presentations of OC can be broadly classified as white or erythematous candidiasis, with various subtypes in each category. The treatments include appropriate oral hygiene, topical agents, and systemic medications. This review focuses on the various clinical presentations of OC and treatment options.


Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Candidiasis, Oral/drug therapy , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Administration, Oral , Administration, Topical , Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage , Atrophy/microbiology , Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous/complications , Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous/diagnosis , Candidiasis, Oral/complications , Candidiasis, Oral/diagnosis , Cheilitis/microbiology , Erythema/microbiology , Glossitis/microbiology , Humans , Hyperplasia/microbiology
9.
Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr ; 128(7-8): 285-8, 2015.
Article De | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26281440

Post mortem examination of a young fallow deer (Dama dama) revealed a severe purulent and necrotizing glossitis as well as a multifocal necrotizing and ulcerative rumenitis and typhlitis. The animal was cachectic. Mannheimia (M.) sp. was isolated from the tongue lesions and identified as M. granulomatis by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing. Mycosis and BVDV infection were excluded. Few publications are dealing with similar macroscopic findings associated with the isolation of M. granulomatis in cattle and roe deer. Therefore, M. granulomatis should also be taken into consideration when such lesions occur in other ruminants. Based on our findings in case of gross pathological lesions of the tongue of ruminants a Mannheimia granulomatis-infection should be investigated as well as the possible role of Fusobacterium necrophorum, Actinobacillus lignieresii or Actinomyces bovis.


Glossitis/veterinary , Mannheimia/isolation & purification , Necrosis/veterinary , Pasteurellaceae Infections/veterinary , Animals , Deer , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/pathology , Necrosis/microbiology , Necrosis/pathology , Pasteurellaceae Infections/microbiology , Pasteurellaceae Infections/pathology
10.
Gerodontology ; 32(1): 13-7, 2015 Mar.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23718267

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors associated with atrophic tongue in patients with dry mouth. METHODS: Discriminant analysis was performed in 1265 patients with dry mouth to identify factors that might influence the risk of developing atrophic tongue. The dependent variable was the presence of atrophic tongue, while patient age, resting saliva flow rate, stimulated saliva flow rate and Candida colony-forming units (CFU) were used as the independent variables. RESULTS: The standardised linear discriminant coefficients showed that Candida CFU, stimulated saliva flow rate and age were significantly associated with the presence of atrophic tongue. The following linear discriminant function was obtained: z = 0.024 × age - 0.63 × (resting saliva flow rate) - 0.81 × (stimulated saliva flow rate) + 0.002 × Candida CFU - 0.611. CONCLUSION: High Candida CFU, low stimulated saliva flow rate and advanced age were identified as closely associated factors for the risk of development of atrophic tongue.


Atrophy/etiology , Glossitis/etiology , Saliva/metabolism , Tongue/physiopathology , Xerostomia/complications , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrophy/microbiology , Candida/growth & development , Colony Count, Microbial , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Glossitis/microbiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Secretory Rate , Tongue/microbiology , Xerostomia/microbiology , Young Adult
11.
Prim Dent J ; 3(4): 59-64, 2014 Nov.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25668378

In comparison to the range of antibiotics used in medicine, the spectrum of antifungal and antiviral drugs used in primary dental care is relatively limited. In practical terms, there are only three antifungal agents and two antiviral agents that have a role. This paper will describe the clinical presentation of orofacial candidal and viral infections and the use of antimicrobial drugs in their management.


Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Dental Care , Primary Health Care , Acyclovir/analogs & derivatives , Acyclovir/therapeutic use , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Candidiasis, Oral/drug therapy , Cheilitis/drug therapy , Cheilitis/microbiology , Fluconazole/therapeutic use , Glossitis/drug therapy , Glossitis/microbiology , Guanine , Herpes Zoster/drug therapy , Humans , Miconazole/therapeutic use , Mouth Diseases/virology , Nystatin/therapeutic use , Stomatitis, Herpetic/drug therapy
12.
Stomatologiia (Mosk) ; 92(6): 16-9, 2013.
Article Ru | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24429781

The article presents data on the clinical and microbiological short and long term efficacy of treatment of the oral mucosa diseases in patients with Helicobacter pylori associated and not associated chronic gastritis depending on the chosen treatment regimen.


Gastritis/complications , Gastritis/microbiology , Helicobacter Infections/complications , Helicobacter pylori , Stomatitis/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Chronic Disease , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Glossitis/complications , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/therapy , Humans , Leukoplakia, Oral/complications , Leukoplakia, Oral/microbiology , Leukoplakia, Oral/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Stomatitis/complications , Stomatitis/microbiology , Young Adult
13.
Oral Dis ; 19(3): 245-61, 2013 Apr.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22998462

Candida species (spp) are commensal yeast that can only instigate oral infection (oral candidosis - OC) when there is an underlying predisposing condition in the host. We investigated four controversial topics on OC: (i) How can a microbiological determination of OC be made as Candida spp. are commensal yeasts and not all of them form hyphae or pseudohyphae during infection? (ii) Is median rhomboid glossitis (MRG) a manifestation of candidal infection? (iii) Can candidal infection cause palate papillary hyperplasia (PPH)? (iv) What is the best therapeutic treatment for denture-associated erythematous stomatitis (DAES)? Results from extensive literature searches, including a systematic review, suggested the following: (i) the diagnosis of OC merely on the basis of the presence of yeasts is an oversimplification of a complex process. No convincing evidence of a single test or method better able to discriminate the transition from candidal saprophytism to pathogenicity has been reported in the literature; (ii-iii) conclusive evidence of a direct aetiopathogenic relationship between MRG and PPH and candidal infection has not been found; and (iv) only limited evidence is available for any DAES treatment, thus making it impossible to make strong therapeutic recommendations.


Candidiasis, Oral , Candidiasis, Oral/diagnosis , Candidiasis, Oral/drug therapy , Candidiasis, Oral/microbiology , Glossitis/microbiology , Humans , Hyperplasia/microbiology , Palate, Hard/pathology
14.
Braz Dent J ; 22(4): 312-6, 2011.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21861031

In view of the morbidity potential of oral complications in patients with leukemia, this study evaluated the clinical and microbiological alterations that occur in the oral mucosa of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing antineoplastic chemotherapy and prophylactic administration of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate. The sample consisted of 17 children aged 2 to 12 years that underwent clinical examination of the oral mucosa for the detection of oral lesions. In addition, biological material was collected from labial and buccal mucosa for microbiological analysis. Oral mucositis was observed in only 5 (29.4%) patients. Microbiological analysis revealed a reduced number of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci (47%), Candida albicans (35.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.9%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (5.9%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (5.9%). Patients with oral mucositis showed a higher frequency of coagulase-negative staphylococci (80%) when compared with patients with normal oral mucosa (33.3%). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the prophylactic use of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate reduces the frequency of oral mucositis and oral pathogens in children with ALL. In addition, the present findings suggest a possible relationship between coagulase-negative staphylococci and the development of oral mucositis.


Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use , Bacteria/classification , Chlorhexidine/therapeutic use , Mouthwashes/therapeutic use , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications , Stomatitis/prevention & control , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Candida albicans/drug effects , Candidiasis, Oral/prevention & control , Child , Child, Preschool , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Escherichia coli Infections/prevention & control , Gingivitis/microbiology , Gingivitis/prevention & control , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/prevention & control , Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Klebsiella Infections/prevention & control , Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/prevention & control , Staphylococcus/drug effects , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/drug effects , Stomatitis/microbiology
15.
Avian Pathol ; 40(2): 207-11, 2011 Apr.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21500041

Disseminated histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a zoonotic fungal organism, is an important disease in animals and humans, particularly those with compromised immune systems. Reports of disseminated histoplasmosis in an avian species are not available within the current literature. Candida albicans, another fungal agent with zoonotic importance, is a commensal of the avian digestive tract that is often associated with opportunistic infections particularly in young or immunocompromised birds. This report describes a case of concomitant histoplasmosis and candidiasis in an Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) characterized by severe granulomatous glossitis, blepharitis and osteomyelitis with numerous intrahistiocytic and extracellular yeasts (H. capsulatum) as well as intralesional hyphae, pseudohyphae and conidia (C. albicans). To our knowledge, co-infection with H. capsulatum and C. albicans has not been reported in an avian species.


Bird Diseases/microbiology , Candidiasis, Oral/veterinary , Histoplasmosis/veterinary , Parrots/microbiology , Animals , Bird Diseases/pathology , Blepharitis/microbiology , Blepharitis/pathology , Blepharitis/veterinary , Candida albicans/pathogenicity , Candidiasis, Oral/complications , Candidiasis, Oral/microbiology , Candidiasis, Oral/pathology , Euthanasia, Animal , Eyelids/microbiology , Eyelids/pathology , Fatal Outcome , Female , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/pathology , Glossitis/veterinary , Histoplasma/pathogenicity , Histoplasmosis/complications , Histoplasmosis/microbiology , Histoplasmosis/pathology , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Osteomyelitis/microbiology , Osteomyelitis/pathology , Osteomyelitis/veterinary , Tongue/microbiology , Tongue/pathology , Zoonoses/microbiology
17.
Braz. dent. j ; 22(4): 312-316, 2011. tab
Article En | LILACS | ID: lil-595662

In view of the morbidity potential of oral complications in patients with leukemia, this study evaluated the clinical and microbiological alterations that occur in the oral mucosa of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing antineoplastic chemotherapy and prophylactic administration of 0.12 percent chlorhexidine gluconate. The sample consisted of 17 children aged 2 to 12 years that underwent clinical examination of the oral mucosa for the detection of oral lesions. In addition, biological material was collected from labial and buccal mucosa for microbiological analysis. Oral mucositis was observed in only 5 (29.4 percent) patients. Microbiological analysis revealed a reduced number of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci (47 percent), Candida albicans (35.3 percent), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.9 percent), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (5.9 percent), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (5.9 percent). Patients with oral mucositis showed a higher frequency of coagulase-negative staphylococci (80 percent) when compared with patients with normal oral mucosa (33.3 percent). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the prophylactic use of 0.12 percent chlorhexidine gluconate reduces the frequency of oral mucositis and oral pathogens in children with ALL. In addition, the present findings suggest a possible relationship between coagulase-negative staphylococci and the development of oral mucositis.


Tendo em vista o potencial de morbidade das complicações orais em pacientes com leucemia, este estudo avaliou as alterações clínicas e microbiológicas que ocorrem na mucosa bucal de crianças com leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA), submetidas à quimioterapia antineoplásica e administração profilática do gluconato de clorexidina 0,12 por cento. A amostra foi constituída de 17 crianças de 2 a 12 anos, as quais foram submetidas a exame clínico da mucosa oral para a detecção de lesões bucais. Além disso, foi coletado material biológico das mucosas labial e jugal para análises microbiológicas. A mucosite oral foi observada em apenas 5 (29,4 por cento) pacientes. A análise microbiológica revelou a presença de um número reduzido de microorganismos potencialmente patogênicos, como estafilococos coagulase-negativos (47 por cento), Candida albicans (35,3 por cento), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5,9 por cento), Escherichia coli enteropatogênica (5,9 por cento) e Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (5,9 por cento). Pacientes com mucosite oral apresentaram uma maior freqüência de estafilococos coagulase-negativos (80 por cento) quando comparados aos pacientes que exibiam mucosa oral normal (33,3 por cento). Em conclusão, os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que o uso profilático do gluconato de clorexidina 0,12 por cento reduz a freqüência de mucosite oral e de patógenos orais em crianças com LLA. Além disso, os presentes achados sugerem uma possível relação entre estafilococos coagulase-negativos e o desenvolvimento de mucosite oral.


Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use , Bacteria/classification , Chlorhexidine/therapeutic use , Mouthwashes/therapeutic use , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications , Stomatitis/prevention & control , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Candida albicans/drug effects , Candidiasis, Oral/prevention & control , Escherichia coli Infections/prevention & control , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Gingivitis/microbiology , Gingivitis/prevention & control , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/prevention & control , Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/prevention & control , Klebsiella Infections/prevention & control , Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/prevention & control , Staphylococcus/drug effects , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/drug effects , Stomatitis/microbiology
18.
Aust Dent J ; 55 Suppl 1: 48-54, 2010 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20553244

Oral candidosis is the most common fungal infection encountered in general dental practice. It manifests in a variety of clinical presentations which may mimic more sinister diseases, and can occasionally be refractory to treatment requiring the attention of an oral medicine specialist. Management of oral candidosis should always include a thorough investigation of underlying predisposing conditions, as the disease often presents when the patient is systemically compromised. This update highlights the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management strategies of oral Candidal lesions commonly encountered in dental practice.


Candidiasis, Oral/diagnosis , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Candida albicans/growth & development , Candidiasis, Oral/classification , Cheilitis/microbiology , Chronic Disease , Diagnosis, Differential , General Practice, Dental , Glossitis/microbiology , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Risk Factors , Stomatitis, Denture/microbiology
19.
Am Fam Physician ; 81(5): 627-34, 2010 Mar 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20187599

Although easily examined, abnormalities of the tongue can present a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for physicians. Recognition and diagnosis require a thorough history, including onset and duration, antecedent symptoms, and tobacco and alcohol use. Examination of tongue morphology and a careful assessment for lymphadenopathy are also important. Geographic tongue, fissured tongue, and hairy tongue are the most common tongue problems and do not require treatment. Median rhomboid glossitis is usually associated with a candidal infection and responds to topical antifungals. Atrophic glossitis is often linked to an underlying nutritional deficiency of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, riboflavin, or niacin and resolves with correction of the underlying condition. Oral hairy leukoplakia, which can be a marker for underlying immunodeficiency, is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and is treated with oral antivirals. Tongue growths usually require biopsy to differentiate benign lesions (e.g., granular cell tumors, fibromas, lymphoepithelial cysts) from premalignant leukoplakia or squamous cell carcinoma. Burning mouth syndrome often involves the tongue and has responded to treatment with alpha-lipoic acid, clonazepam, and cognitive behavior therapy in controlled trials. Several trials have also confirmed the effectiveness of surgical division of tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), in the context of optimizing the success of breastfeeding compared with education alone. Tongue lesions of unclear etiology may require biopsy or referral to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, head and neck surgeon, or a dentist experienced in oral pathology.


Tongue Diseases/diagnosis , Atrophy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis , Glossitis/microbiology , Glossitis/pathology , Humans , Leukoplakia, Hairy/diagnosis , Leukoplakia, Hairy/etiology , Lichen Planus, Oral/diagnosis , Lichen Planus, Oral/immunology , Nutrition Disorders/complications , Primary Health Care , Tongue Diseases/epidemiology , Tongue Diseases/etiology , Tongue Diseases/immunology , Tongue Neoplasms/diagnosis
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