Alteraciones morfológicas de la lengua en pacientes con enfermedades sistémicas

Abstract

background: A lot of systemic diseases can affect oral cavity with tongue alterations. Objectives: To explore the tongue of patients with systemic diseases and describe such findings using a glossary previously established in order to know if there are specific characteristics of each systemic illness and then to compare our findings to healthy patients and define if there are direct relations between disease and tongue changes. Patient and methods: In a prospective, longitudinal, observational, open and transversal study 163 subjects were included. Through very specific examination we explored them with any kind of systemic disease. No matter age or sex, we took care of alcoholism, number of cigarettes, visits to dentistry and their systemic disease. Results: Although it cannot be said that there is a direct relationship between the tongue alterations and their systemic diseases, at this moment, we found 53 patients (34%) with tongue manifestations so we do believe the tongue should be always studied as well as the oral cavity, and may be extremely helpful in difficult diagnoses. Conclusions: The study of oral cavity is essential and it must be done in detail and routinely.