Tongue, Geographic

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Synonyms

  • BMG
  • benign migratory glossitis
  • erythema areata migrans
  • erythema migrans
  • geographic stomatitis
  • wandering rash of the tongue

Disorder Subdivisions

  • None

General Discussion

Geographic tongue is a benign condition characterized by inflammation of the tongue (glossitis) that appears in a map-like (geographic) pattern. The normal tongue is covered by a layer of small bumps known as papillae. In affected individuals, certain areas of the tongue are missing these bumps. These affected areas usually appear as smooth, red or pink colored, degenerated (atrophic) patches. Geographic tongue tends to come and go it usually heals without treatment, but will recur again usually affecting a different area of the tongue. Most cases are not associated with any symptoms (asymptomatic) and the condition usually goes away without treatment. Geographic tongue is not associated with any long-term health complications in healthy individuals. The exact cause of geographic tongue is unknown.

Resources

Smell and Taste Center
Smell and Taste Center
University of Pennsylvania
5 Ravdin Building
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: (215)662-6580
Fax: (215)349-5266
Email: Geraldine.Fischer@uphs.upenn.edu
Internet: http://www.med.upenn.edu/stc/index.html

NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Building 31, Room 2C39,
31 Center Drive, MSC 2290
Bethesda, MD 20892
USA
Tel: (301)496-4261
Fax: (301)480-4098
Tel: (866)232-4528
Email: nidcrinfo@mail.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Email: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.® (NORD). Cigna members can access the complete report by logging into myCigna.com. For non-Cigna members, a copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html.

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  1/13/2009
Copyright  1987, 1988, 1989, 2002, 2009 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.


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