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Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)

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Geographic tongue

Other Names for this Disease
  • Benign migratory glossitis
  • Ectopic geographic tongue
  • Erythema migrans
More Names
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Overview


Geographic tongue is a condition that causes lesions on the tongue that resemble psoriasis of the skin.  The lesions may also occasionally occur in the mucosa of the mouth and labia; this condition is called areata migrans.  The lesions typically disappear from one area and move to another.  [1][2][3]

References

  1. Cummings: Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed. Mosby-Year Book, Inc; 1998.
  2. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2007, 59th ed.. Saunders; 2007.
  3. Gonsalves WC, Chi AC, Neville BW. Common Oral Lesions: Part I. Superficial Mucosal Lesions. American Family Physician. February 2007.
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On this page

General Information

  • DermNet NZ by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated has an information page on geographical tongue.  You can read more about the condition by visiting the link below.
    Link: http://dermnetnz.org/site-age-specific/geographic-tongue.html
  • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) offers printed materials on this topic. We recommend calling toll-free at 877-226-4267 to request a copy of this information.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Geographic tongue. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
  • The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Geographic tongue. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.