Pigmented fungiform papillae in a middle-aged Saudi female

Abstract

Pigmented fungiform papillae are a rare benign condition. It is commonly considered a diagnosis dilemma as it could be a clinical sign of a serious condition. Our patient was a middle-aged Saudi female presenting with hyperpigmentation along the lateral and anterior aspects of her tongue and was not associated with other cutaneous or mucocutaneous manifestation. Her medical history was significant for iron deficiency anemia, hepatic hemangioma, cervical and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Upon inspection, she had a longitudinal hyperpigmented tan-brown patch on the lateral aspects of her tongue and pinpoint discoloration evenly distributed on the papillae of the anterior tongue. The examination by mucoscopy revealed a cobblestone appearance along the mentioned distribution. The patient refused to have the biopsy done, but she was reassured about her condition and instructed to visit the clinic if she has any further issues.