TONGUE MASS OR SWELLING

Ask the Following Questions:

1. Is it painful? Painful swellings of the tongue include trauma, burns, herpes simplex, pemphigus, erythema bullosum, carcinoma, Ludwig's angina, angioneurotic edema, bee stings, and hemorrhage due to coagulation disorders.
2. Is the mass or swelling focal or diffuse? Focal masses include trauma, herpes simplex, pemphigus, erythema bullosum, carcinoma, angioma, fibroma, lipoma, mucus cyst, papilloma, or syphilitic gumma. Diffuse masses include Ludwig's angina, angioneurotic edema, bee sting, hemorrhage, myxedema, acromegaly, cretinism, mongolism, primary amyloidosis, diffuse lymphoma, and riboflavin deficiency.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Focal lesions of the tongue should be referred to an oral surgeon or dermatologist for biopsy or excision. Diffuse enlargement or swellings require a workup including CBC, sedimentation rate, urinalysis, chemistry panel, thyroid panel, VDRL test, and ANA titer. If a coagulation disorder is suspected, a coagulation profile may be done. If a vitamin deficiency is suspected, a therapeutic trial of vitamins is indicated. If amyloidosis is suspected, a biopsy may be done. Other disorders may require biopsy also. A trial of antibiotics or corticosteroids may be necessary.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Swollen tongue

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Swollen tongue:

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Swollen tongue

• Back to symptom: Swollen tongue: Introduction (review 247 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Swollen tongue: Stomatitis (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Swollen tongue

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: Stomatitis (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

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