A case of pigmented fungiform papillae of tongue in a young female with iron deficiency anaemia

Fungiform papillae are red/pink, mushroom shaped projections located on the tip and dorsolateral part of tongue. It harbours several taste buds. Pigmented fungiform papillae is a not so common benign condition which involves pigment deposition in fungiform papillae. Authors report a case of 35 years female who presented with history of blackish spots over tongue for past 10 years with no other associated symptom. Patient had conjunctival pallor (moderate) and rest of the examination was normal. Investigations showed iron deficiency anaemia with Hb. of 9.5 mg/dl. A clinical diagnosis of Pigmented Fungiform Papillae (PFP) with associated Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) was made. Patient was explained in detail about the benign nature of disease and was put on oral iron therapy. Follow up after 2 months was advised.

Papilas Fungiformes Pigmentadas de la Lengua. Características Clínicas, Histológicas y Dermatoscópicas de una Serie de Casos Ecuatorianos / Pigmented Fungiform Papillae of the Tongue. Clinical, Histological and Dermatoscopic Characteristics A Serie of Ecuadorian Cases

RESUMEN: Las papilas fungiformes pigmentadas de la lengua, cuyas siglas son PFPT, del inglés Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue, es una condición asintomática, no progresiva que se presenta en personas de piel oscura, en las cuales las papilas fungiformes cambian de su color rosado natural, a una gama de café a negro. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es reportar y describir las caractetísticas clínicas, dermatoscópicas e histológicas de la PFPT por primera vez en una serie de pacientes ecuatorianos. Estudio prospectivo simple en el Centro de Especialidades Dermatológicas Garzón, período de dos años. El criterio de inclusión fue cambio de coloración a nivel lingual, se recolectaron datos demográficos, clínicos; fotografías, dermatoscopía, y biopsia, para tinción con hematoxilina-eosina y Fontana-Mason. Examinamos 8.640 pacientres, 15 (12 mujeres, 3 varones) fueron diagnosticados de PFPT. La edad promedio fue 31 años, todos fueron mestizos, con fototipo de piel predominante III y IV. El tiempo de evolución promedio en años fue 5,8. Ninguno tuvo antescedentes familiares o personales relacionados a la patología. La evaluación clínica demostró que el patrón de distribución de acuerdo a la clasificación de Holzwanger en la gran mayoría fue tipo II (13/15). En todos los casos la dermatoscopía y la histología fueron específicas demostrando hallazgos típicos y comprobatorios de PFPT.

ABSTRACT: The pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue, whose acronyms are PFPT, of the English Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue, is an asymptomatic, nonprogressive condition that occurs in dark-skinned people, in which the fungiform papillae change their color natural pink, to a range of brown to black. The aim of our study is to report and describe the clinical, dermatoscopic and histological characteristics of the PFPT for the first time in a series of Ecuadorian patients. A simple prospective study at the Garzón Dermatological Specialty Center, a two-year period. The inclusion criteria was lingual change of color, demographic, clinical data were collected; photographs, dermatoscopy, and biopsy, for staining with hematoxylin-eosin and FontanaMason. We examined 8,640 patients, 15 (12 women, 3 men) were diagnosed with PFTP. The range of age was 31 years, all were mestizos, with skin phototype predominant III and IV. The range of evolution time in years was 5.8. None had family or personal precedents related to the pathology. The clinical evaluation showed that the pattern of distribution according to the Holzwanger classification in the great majority was type II (13/15). In all cases, the dermatoscopy and histology were specific, demonstrating typical and evidential findings of PFPT.

A Case of Pigmented Fungiform Papillae of the Tongue / 대한피부과학회지

Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue are characterized clinically by pigmentation confined to these papillae and histopathologically by melanophages in the lamina propriae. We report a case of pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue in a 24-year-old Korean woman who has a dark brown-colored pigmented lesion on the anterolateral fungiform papillae.

A Case of Pigmented Fungiform Papillae of the Tongue / 대한피부과학회지

The fungiform papillae are generally described as being pink or red in colour. Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue (PFPT) are characterized clinically by pigmentation confined to these papillae and histopathologically by melanophages in the lamina propriae. PFPT appears to be relatively common among the black population, whereas this entity has rarely been reported in Asians. We report a case of PFPT in a 35-year-old Korean woman who had black dots, exclusively involved with fungiform papillae, on the anterior dorsolateral side of the tongue. The patient also had iron deficiency anemia. Histopathologic findings revealed an increase of melanophages in the upper dermis within the fungiform papillae.

Two Cases of Pigmented Fungiform Papillae of the Tongue

Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue(PFPT) is a rare benign pigmentary disorder of the tongue. In dark-skinned individuals, PFPT appears to be relatively common, whereas this entity is seldom reported in fair-skinned people and Asians. Although the relevance to systemic conditions has been suggested in several reported cases, the etiology and pathogenesis of this entity are not yet clearly defined. We report two cases of PFPT in young Korean females. Clinically both patients presented with asymptomatic pigmentary lesions confined to fungiform papillae of the tongue, which had been detected several months ago. Histopathologic findings revealed increased melanophages in the subepidermal area within the fungiform papillae.

A Case of Pigmented Fungiform Papillae of the Tongue / 대한피부과학회지

Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue is a rare disorder in Korea. It is characterized clinically by pigmentation confined to the fungiform papillae and histopathologically by the presence of melanophages in the upper dermis. We report a case of pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue in a 21-year-old woman who had brown to violaceous dots on the fungiform papillae and pigmented patches on the right lateral dorsum of the tongue. Histological findings showed increased melanophages in the upper dermis.