ABSTRACT
Median rhomboid glossitis [MRG] or central papillary atrophy is an uncommon benign abnormality of the tongue, most frequently affecting men and it is believed that candidacies is the major etiologic factor for this abnormality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MRG and its characteristics in 837 students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences. In this research, 837 Medical Sciences students in 2006 were selected by census sampling and enrolled into the study. Oral examinations were performed in classes, wards and dormitories. All characteristics of subjects were recorded in a researcher-mode form and in those who had MRG based on clinical diagnosis, a sample was taken by swab and sent to the laboratory for candidiasis infection [hypha]. Data were analyzed by SPSS 13.5 and using t-test and chi2 test. The results showed that the prevalence of MRG is about 1.5% [13 cases]. There was a relationship between MRG and sex, but there was no relation between MRG and age. In 11 cases [84.6%] the smears were positive for candidiasis infection [hypha]. Based on previous published studies in the past and the present study, candidiasis infection [hypha] is a main factor for MRG. Therefore, in the cases of having median rhomboid glossitis, all causing factors for candidiasis should be examined and removed