Tongue lesions and anomalies among patients attending outpatient clinic in Sulaymaniyah city

Background and objectives: The tongue is an essential muscular organ used for speech, mastication, deglutition and sucking, it had an influence on face development, and dental occlusion. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tongue lesions and anomalies among patients attending outpatient of Peramerd dental health center in Sulaymaniyah city. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 patients randomly who visited Peramered dental health center between December 2022; to May 2023. The tongue was examined for abnormalities in size, shape, mobility, lesions, and surface changes. When clinical features were not diagnostic, a biopsy was conducted. Results: The study sample included 225 females (56.3%) and 175 males (43.8%), the prevalence of tongue lesions with no significant depending on sex distribution (p-value = 0.14). In the current study most of the patients are aged 50 years and above ranged (22.3%), and the tongue lesions significant with old age (p <0.001). There were 212 individuals with one or more tongue disorders, with a prevalence of tongue lesions of (53%). Fissured tongue was the most frequent condition, detected in 101 individuals (25.3%). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were determined to be the two most prevalent systemic disorders. Conclusion: The current study revealed a significant frequency of tongue lesions among older patients, more in males, and higher in smoking and systemic diseases. The more prevalent tongue lesions were fissure tongue and coated tongue, while lipoma, pyogenic granuloma, and strawberry tongue were at the least frequent.