Fissured tongue

Fissured tongue
Fissured tongue
Classification and external resources

A fissured tongue. ICD-10 ICD-9 OMIM DiseasesDB eMedicine MeSH K14.5 529.5 [1] [2] , 750.13 [3]

137400 32503

[4]

[5] [6] [7]

derm/665 D014063

Fissured tongue (also known as "scrotal tongue," "lingua plicata," "Plicated tongue,"[8]:1038 and "furrowed tongue"[9]:800) is a benign condition characterized by deep grooves (fissures) in the dorsum of the tongue. Although these grooves may look unsettling, the condition is usually painless. Some individuals may complain of an associated burning sensation however. [10]

Prevalence
It is a relatively common condition, with an estimated prevalence of 2-5% of the general population. Males are more commonly affected. The condition may be seen at any age, but generally affects older people more frequently. The condition also generally becomes more accentuated with age.

Clinical features
The clinical appearance is considerably varied in both the orientation, number, depth and length of the fissure pattern. There are usually multiple grooves/furrows 2-6mm in depth present. Sometimes there is a large central furrow, with smaller fissures branching perpendicularly. Other patterns may show a mostly dorsolateral position of the fissures (i.e. sideways running grooves on the tongue's upper surface). Some patients may experience burning or soreness.

Fissured tongue

Cause
The cause is unknown, but it may be partly a genetic trait. Aging and environmental factors may also contribute to the appearance.

Associated conditions
Fissured tongue is seen in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, in most patients with Down syndrome, in association with geographic tongue, and in healthy, normal individuals.

Treatment
If the fissures are causing halitosis, then mechanical tongue cleansing should be introduced to the patients oral hygiene routine. As the condition is otherwise entirely benign, no treatment is indicated and the patient should be reassured that it is a common variance of the normal appearance of the tongue.

References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] http:/ / apps. who. int/ classifications/ icd10/ browse/ 2010/ en#/ K14. 5 http:/ / www. icd9data. com/ getICD9Code. ashx?icd9=529. 5 http:/ / www. icd9data. com/ getICD9Code. ashx?icd9=750. 13 http:/ / omim. org/ entry/ 137400 http:/ / www. diseasesdatabase. com/ ddb32503. htm http:/ / www. emedicine. com/ derm/ topic665. htm http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ cgi/ mesh/ 2013/ MB_cgi?field=uid& term=D014063 Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN1-4160-2999-0. James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN0-7216-2921-0. [10] Scully, Crispian (2008). Oral and maxillofacial medicine : the basis of diagnosis and treatment (2nd ed. ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. ISBN9780443068188.

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Fissured tongue Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=531593742 Contributors: 2001:4898:0:FFF:0:5EFE:A52:4812, Adavidb, Ageekgal, Arcadian, Cuddlebuggle, DRosenbach, Diannaa, Dozenist, Gdbanks, Jason Quinn, Jason7825, Kauczuk, Mac Davis, My Core Competency is Competency, Scottalter, SuperCoder, Tepi, Waacstats, Wjhonson, Wouterstomp, 13 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Fissured_geographic_tongue.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Fissured_geographic_tongue.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors: Kozlovsk, 4 anonymous edits

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/