Geographic Tounge

Geographic tongue is a condition referred to a variety of terms such as benign migratory glossitis, erythema migrans, annulus migrant or wandering rash of the tongue. (Ref 1). It was first described in 1955 and occurs in approximately 3 % of the population. It occurs in all age groups but is more common in adults, the incidence in females is approximately twice that of males. It is a benign condition commonly occurring on the tip, lateral borders, and dorsum of the tongue, lesions sometimes extend to the ventral portion as well. The appearance is of multifocal, circinate, irregular erythematous patches bounded by a slightly elevated, white or cream colored keratotic band or line. The central erythematous patch represents atrophy of the filiform papillae. The white border is composed of regenerating filiform papillae and a mixture of keratin and neutrophil. (Ref 2)