A Clinicopathological Survey of Tongue Lesions on the Biopsy Materials

Abstract

A total of 304 tongue lesions of biopsy materials taken in our department during the past 10 years (1981-1990) were clinicopathologically evaluated.
In histological classification of the lesions, 86 (28.3%) were cancers, 58 (19.1%) inflammatory lesions, 58 (19.1%) fibroma-like lesions, 42 (13.8%) cysts and cyst-like lesions, 26 (8.6%) angiomas, and 25 (8.2%) epithelial proliferating lesions, as well as other lesions were found. As for the age of the cases with tongue lesions: 76 cases were in those between the ages of 50 and 59, 57 cases were in those between 60 and 69 years of age. And 49 cases were found in those from 40 to 49 years of age. Furthermore, the cases with cancer and the cases with epithelial proliferating lesions were found most frequently in those between 60 and 69 years of age. The cases with inflammatory lesion and the cases with fibroma-like lesion were found most frequently in the 50-59 year age group. The cases with cyst and cyst-like lesion were found most frequently in the 10-19 age group. As for the time between the appearance of symptomes and visiting the hospital, between one and two months was the most common period for those with cancer. Those with inflammatory lesions and cyst and cyst-like lesions commonly waited one month. Two years was the most common period for the cases with fibroma-like lesions. As for the correlation of the lesions with chief complaints, the fibroma-like lesion was most commonly associated with complaints of swelling. Cancer, however, was the most common in the cases which involved complaints of pain. The lateral borders of the tongue were the most frequently affected sites of the cancers and inflammatory lesions. The anterior portion of the tongue was the most common site of the fibroma-like lesions.