title: Eosinophilic ulcer of the tongue: a rare and confusing clinical entity.
abstract: Eosinophilic ulcers are rare, benign, reactive and often self-limiting lesions of the oral cavity. Although the aetiology is not clear, trauma is believed to play a role in their development. Clinically, the lesion manifests as an isolated ulcer, with raised, indurated borders and a yellow fibrinous floor; because of its long duration it often leads to the suspicion of squamous cell carcinoma. Although the ulcer is benign in nature, a biopsy is necessary to rule out malignancy. Histopathologically, the ulcer is characterised by the presence of dense inflammatory infiltrate extending into the deeper muscle layers with sheets of lymphocytes intermixed with eosinophils. This is a case report of a 65-year-old woman with an eosinophilic ulcer on the lateral border of the tongue. The ulcer healed rapidly after an incisional biopsy and topical steroid application. The final diagnosis was achieved following clinical and histopathological examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Farooqia Dental College and Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lingaraju
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Farooqia Dental College, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Yogesh Besagarahally
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Gaddelingiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Farooqia Dental College and Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh Mysore
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shivalingu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Farooqia Dental College and Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nishath
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khanum
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014059:Tongue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids
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