Geographic tongue

[kkingery83]

Hi,
Last December my husband noticed some round spots on the left lateral border of his tongue. They seemed to go away then a few days later the spots came back. He saw his dentist which thought it was geographic tongue and also an ent. The ent didn't think it looked like geographic tongue And was leaning more towards lichen planus. The spots come and go, get larger, disappear and then reappear the next day in the same side of his tongue. The ent did preform a small biopsy in January which came back as chronic glossitis consistent with geograohic tongue. My main concern and question is would geograohic tongue only appear on this one spot on the tongue? The lesions do change in size and shape and they are red in the center with the whitish yellow border. They do seem to grow every day, then disappear only to reappear the very next day on the same spot and location on his tongue. I am a little anxious that this could be something more worrisome like cancer. Is this normal behavior for gt to only pop up in one area of the tongue? The left side is always affected never the right. Also he does have a few similar spot on the left front border and tip of his tongue that seem to also be chronic.. I have included a few pics. The ent and his dentit both feel like this is geographic tongue and nothing more.thanks.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/kkingery83/EEAE3A20-43BA-45D5-9038-7776155D3E15-1162-000001CEDA2D0312.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/kkingery83/EFF0C23D-EDD2-4A1F-8FA6-86348A0B5D8A-88-00000042DC3923A1.jpg

[Serbia]

Why don t you ansver me? I am going crazy because of this, and doctors are stupid here in Serbia, don t know how to help.

[Serbia]

i have the same thing. please tell me what it is. how is your housbend now...              i am from Serbia, sorry for bad english

[kkingery83]

Thanks for your response. So is the fact that the flare ups only occur on the left posterior later border and dorsal part if his tongue considered normal for geographic tongue? In the research I have done it says the lesions will migrate to different parts of the tongue? His only stay in this one area but the lesions always change in shape and appearance from day to day. The only thing that ever really stays is the paler area which looks like a bald patch all the time. I know there is not a lot known about the condition and his biopsy results came back as chronic glossitis consistent with gt findings. Could this part of his tongue be hyper sensitive for some reason and that's the reason it's always on the same side? He has never said a flare up on the right side only his left. I am not sure what triggers his flare ups bc there always occuring from day to day. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my question.

Also he has used smokeless tobacco in the past but since quit over a year ago. I think I am extremely anxious about oral cancer. Does this look or act like it could be related to cancer at all?  

[Caliban]

It does indeed look like geographic tongue (benign migratory glossitis). The description you provided fits perfectly into hallmark signs of geographic tongue. The direct cause of it is not well understood. Such condition usually runs in a family and passed from generation to generation.

The treatment is currently unavailable and during flare up it is advised for patients to stay away from hot/spicy foods. I believe research did show that some foods may exacerbate the condition. Some research was also done that Vitamin B may help relief condition in some cases, also some doctors may prescribe topical medications (steroids).

Now there are talks that it may be linked to two possible diseases: psoriasis and celiac disease. For more information on these two, you may have to refer to your general doctor.