Lesions of Tongue : A Five Year Experience.

ABSTRACT

Context Tongue lesions are quite common and affect both genders and all age groups. However, very few studies concentrate on the histopathological spectrum of tongue lesions, usually including them as a part of oral cavity lesions. No such study has been published from the newly formed state of Uttarakhand. Aim: A retrospective review of histopathology of various types of tongue lesions in different age groups of both genders, amongst cases reported in the department of pathology. Methods and Materials Study included a total of 121 cases of tongue lesions reported in the histopathology section over a duration of five years, from July 2004 to June 2009. Result: In this study, the most common lesions were malignant (58.7%), followed by benign lesions (33%) and pre-malignant lesions (8.3%). The most common site for tongue lesions was base of tongue (52.8%). Common age groups affected were 41- 50 years (27.2%) and 51-60 years (28.0%). The most common clinical presentation was growth and induration. Overall males were affected more than females; with MaleFemale ratio of 3.31. Conclusions: The commonest tongue lesion in this study was moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma among the malignant lesions whereas chronic inflammation was the commonest out of non-malignant lesions. Tongue may show some less common tumours like schwannoma and hemangioma etc.