Case report of yerba maté drinking and persistent oral lesions

Abstract

Yerba maté is a tea-like beverage (an infusion of Ilex paraguariensis) that is commonly consumed in many parts of South America. The drinking of maté is a social habit, and some research suggests that it is a risk factor for upper aerodigestive tract malignancies including the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and esophagus. Smoking and alcohol drinking are often strongly associated with maté consumption in most South American populations. In this case report, a patient that chronically consumed maté presented with various oral lesions requiring biopsy.