Abstract
1. During the period of 6 years (1962-1968), 287 tongue lesions (477 specimens) were examined by biopsy, and 109 lesions (37%) were found malignant.
2. The remaining 178 lesions were diagnosed as benign tumor (64), inflammation (64) and abnormal mucous membrane (50). However, 41 (23%) out of the above-mentioned 178 lesions were found incorrect from their clinical courses thereafter.
3. Exstirpotions were performed on the above 41 lesions for the establishment of the diagnosis, and 17 lesions (41.4%) were found malignant. Most of the 17 lesions were from the group of “ abnormal mucous membrane”.
4. In the group of abnormal mucous membrane the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions is very difficult from the clinical findings and also from the pathological pictures. On the clinical side, therefore, the lesion which is suspected of malignancy must be carefully studied histologically; and the histological diagnosis must be based on the clinical fi ndings to some extent.
