Clinical and histopathological features of a lingual mucosal horn: First time described clinical case series

Abstract

Lingual mucosal horns are diagnostically challenging variants of a non-viral lingual papilloma that can clinically mimic the cutaneous horn. Improved characterization of these rare variants is needed, as improper diagnosis may lead to inappropriate or delayed treatment. A case series of patients with lingual horns diagnosed and treated at two academic hospitals from 2008 to 2019, was performed along with a literature review. We have diagnosed and inventoried seven lingual mucosal horns. The clinical description reveals a unique white overgrowth located on the dorsal surface of the tongue, delevoping at expense of the filiform papillae, without any preferential site but always located forward of the V-shaped line. The lesions are firm but remain nevertheless flexible, movable, a few millimeters high, with a conical shape. The lingual mucosal horn is a conical overgrowth whose occurrence is extremely rare. The lingual mucosal horn is a non-viral papilloma, and differs from the cutaneous variant. *Correspondence to: Frédérick Gaultier, DDS, PhD, Henri Mondor Hospital, Oral Medecine and Oral Surgery Department, ParisDescartes University, Ilede France, France and Laboratory of Molecular Oral Pathophysiology, INSERM 1138, Paris, France, E-mail: frederick.gaultier@parisdescartes.fr