Herpetic geometric glossitis: A distinctive pattern of lingual herpes simplex virus infection

P. R. Cohen, S. Kazi, M. E. Grossman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two immunocompromised patients with herpetic geometric glossitis, a clinically distinctive form of lingual herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 infection, are described. The significant features of herpetic geometric glossitis are summarized, the clinical differential diagnosis of this form of HSV infection is reviewed, and the possible pathogenesis of these lingual lesions is discussed. Both of our patients, as well as all previously described patients with this condition, had extremely painful cross-hatched, branched, and/or linear fissures on the dorsal aspect of the tongue. Symptoms prompdy resolved within 1 to 2 days, and the fissures subsequently healed within 3 to 12 days after systemic acyclovir therapy was initiated. In contrast to tongue lesions of herpetic geometric glossitis, similar-appearing lingual lesions of other conditions are usually asymptomatic. The similar morphology of corneal dendrites in herpetic epithelial keratitis and linear fissures in herpetic geometric glossitis suggest the possibility that these HSV mucosal lesions may have a common pathogenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1231-1235
Number of pages5
JournalSouthern medical journal
Volume88
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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