Symptom Finder - Tongue Pain
TONGUE PAIN
Examination of the tongue is a time-honored important diagnostic aid, but in my experience, it is unusual for patients to present with pain in the tongue. Nevertheless, there is a plethora of causes. The mnemonic VINDICATE lends itself best to prompting the recall of these causes.
V—Vascular disorders suggest pernicious and iron deficiency anemia.
I—Inflammation recalls Vincent stomatitis, herpes simplex, tuberculosis, and syphilis. The referred pain from gingivitis and abscessed teeth should also be considered here.
N—Neoplasms remind one that carcinoma of the tongue often presents with pain.
D—Degenerative and deficiency diseases remind one of pellagra and other avitaminoses.
I—Intoxication and idiopathic disorders call to mind tobacco, plumbism, mercurialism, and glossopharyngeal or trigeminal neuralgia.
C—Congenital anomalies of the tongue are rare.
A—Allergic and autoimmune diseases, in contrast, suggest dermatomyositis and angioneurotic edema.
T—Trauma suggests the numerous times we bite our tongues and may prompt a search for epilepsy when a patient presents with syncope.
E—Endocrine disorders remind one of hypothyroidism.
Approach to the Diagnosis
The approach to the diagnosis includes a CBC, sedimentation rate, serum B12 and folic acid levels, serum ferritin, serology, tuberculin test, and perhaps biopsy of the lesion. A trial of vitamin therapy may be indicated.
Examination of the tongue is a time-honored important diagnostic aid, but in my experience, it is unusual for patients to present with pain in the tongue. Nevertheless, there is a plethora of causes. The mnemonic VINDICATE lends itself best to prompting the recall of these causes.
V—Vascular disorders suggest pernicious and iron deficiency anemia.
I—Inflammation recalls Vincent stomatitis, herpes simplex, tuberculosis, and syphilis. The referred pain from gingivitis and abscessed teeth should also be considered here.
N—Neoplasms remind one that carcinoma of the tongue often presents with pain.
D—Degenerative and deficiency diseases remind one of pellagra and other avitaminoses.
I—Intoxication and idiopathic disorders call to mind tobacco, plumbism, mercurialism, and glossopharyngeal or trigeminal neuralgia.
C—Congenital anomalies of the tongue are rare.
A—Allergic and autoimmune diseases, in contrast, suggest dermatomyositis and angioneurotic edema.
T—Trauma suggests the numerous times we bite our tongues and may prompt a search for epilepsy when a patient presents with syncope.
E—Endocrine disorders remind one of hypothyroidism.
Approach to the Diagnosis
The approach to the diagnosis includes a CBC, sedimentation rate, serum B12 and folic acid levels, serum ferritin, serology, tuberculin test, and perhaps biopsy of the lesion. A trial of vitamin therapy may be indicated.
