A case report of eosinophilic ulcerative granuloma that mimics carcinoma of the tongue

Abstract

Eosinophilic ulcerative granuloma, is a rare, chronic, self-limiting, benign lesion of the tongue in which the cause is unknown but a traumatic background has been suggested. Both because of the rapid expansion of the lesion and the tough, deep ulcerative nature, it mimics squamous carcinoma of the tongue; therefore the differential diagnosis has to be done in geriatric, long-term smoking patients. This is the case report of a 81- year-old, long-term smoking (1 package a day/50 years) woman, who had a rapid growing painful ulcer on the right proximal lateroinferior side of the tongue for 3 weeks and diagnosed as "eosinophilic ulcerative granuloma" after excisional biopsy.

Keywords

• eosinophilic granuloma
• geriatrics
• tobacco smoking
• cancer of the tongue
• differential diagnosis