Increased prevalence of geographic tongue in burning mouth complaints: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of geographic tongue and fissured tongue (GFT) in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Our hypothesis was that benign soft tissue changes to the tongue, such as GFT, are associated with BMS.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 161 patients with BMS and 87 TMJ dysfunction cases as control. Frequency of GFT and demographics for both groups was assessed.


RESULTS
In the BMS group, 26.7% of the subjects were diagnosed with GFT, whereas in the control group, 11.5% had GFT (P < .05). In the subgroup of BMS with GFT, the male-to-female ratio was approximately 1:2, whereas the male-to-female ratio of those with BMS and no GFT was approximately 1:5 (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate a higher than expected prevalence of GFT among patients with BMS compared with a control group of patients with TMJ. In males, GFT may be a significant predictor for BMS.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Victor
V
Ching
Miriam
M
Grushka
Mark
M
Darling
Nan
N
Su
D000328:Adult; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005929:Glossitis, Benign Migratory / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors