Psoriasis of the tongue

Abstract

Introduction Psoriasis is a common, chronic dermatologic disease. Cases affecting the oral mucous membranes are rarely reported in the international literature, in particular tongue lesions are hardly ever documented. Material and methods This article presents a 61 year old patient with persistent whitish lesion on his tongue. Biopsy specimens from mid surface and tip of the tongue were taken. Histopathologic sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin (H-E) as well as with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and examined by light microscopy. Results Tongue lesions showing epithelial hyperplasia, parakeratosis, long papillae, neutrophils and microabscesses of Munro. Conclusions The reported case suggests that the clinical and histological appearances of the lesions are consistent with mucosal psoriasis.