title: Geographic tongue treated with topical tacrolimus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Geographic tongue, or benign migratory glossitis, is usually an asymptomatic inflammatory disorder of the tongue mucosa of unknown etiology. It is characterized by circinate, erythematous, ulcer-like lesions of the dorsum and lateral border of the tongue due to loss of filiform papillae of the tongue epithelium. Symptomatic treatments have not been evaluated rigorously.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe herein two cases of adult patients with persistent and painful geographic tongue successfully treated with topical application of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful treatment with topical 0.1% tacrolimus for symptomatic geographic tongue. Clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and the safety of topical tacrolimus in treating geographic tongue.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.
authors: Masaya
authors: M
authors: Ishibashi
authors: Genichi
authors: G
authors: Tojo
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Watanabe
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Tamabuchi
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Masu
authors: Setsuya
authors: S
authors: Aiba