atrophic glossitis

atrophic glossitis,

a pathologic condition in which the various papillae are lost from the dorsum of the tongue, resulting in a very sore and highly sensitive surface that makes eating difficult. See also glossitis.

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glossitis (glôsī´tis),

n an inflammation of the tongue.

glossitis areata exfoliativa,

n See tongue, geographic.

glossitis, atrophic,

n (bald tongue, smooth tongue) the atrophy of the glossal papillae, resulting in a smooth tongue. The tongue may be pallid or erythematous and may appear small or enlarged. It may be associated with anemias, pellagra, vitamin B complex deficiencies, sprue, or other systemic diseases or may be local in origin. Because atrophy may be one phase, and circumscribed, painful, glossal excoriations may be another phase of one or more of the same systemic disease(s), much confusion in terminology has arisen (e.g., Moeller's glossitis; Hunter's glossitis; slick, glazed, varnished, glossy, or bald tongue; chronic superficial erythematous glossitis; glossodynia exfoliativa; beefy tongue; and pellagrous glossitis).

Glossitis.

glossitis, benign migratory,

n See tongue, geographic.

glossitis exfoliativa,

n See glossitis, Moeller's.

glossitis, interstitial sclerous,

n (Clarke-Fournier glossitis), nodular, lobulated, indurated tongue associated with terminal syphilis.

glossitis, median rhomboid,

n See atrophy, central papillary.

glossitis migrans,

n See tongue, geographic.