Clinical Characteristics of Patients Showing Fissured Tongue with Burning Mouth Syndrome: Case Series

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients showing fissured tongue (FT) with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Methods We reviewed the clinical records of 16 FT patients with BMS who visited the Oral Diseases Clinic of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from March 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018. The subjects were graded by FT classification and compared with each group on a numeral rating scale (NRS) of tongue pain, proportion of coated tongue, unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR), Ryodoraku, and heart rate variability (HRV) results. Results FT grade had no significant correlation with NRS of tongue pain and USFR. FT grade had a substantially significant positive correlation with BMI and LF/HF ratio in HRV. FT grade had a substantially significant negative correlation with proportion of coated tongue. The most frequent accompanying symptoms were xerostomia and insomnia. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that FT has no correlation with tongue pain in BMS. Rather, FT seems to correlate with sympathetic function acceleration. Keywords: fissured tongue, FT, burning mouth syndrome, BMS, clinical characteristics