Taste Disorders Accompanying Hunter's Glossitis Following Total Gastrectomy

Abstract

We encountered five cases of Hunter's glossitis following total gastrectomy. Chief complaints were taste disorders and abnormal glossal sensations. In all five cases, smooth red tongue, macrocytic anemia and reduced levels of serum vitamin B12 were observed. Gustometry was performed on four patients and taste disorders were observed.
These patients were treated with vitamin B1 2 which improved local findings of the tongue, results of gustatory tests and subjective complaints.
Hunter's glossitis, which can be easily improved with vitamin B12 administration, may be the cause of the smooth red tongue. We need to consider this possibility.