Localized Amyloidosis of Tongue: A Rare Case from India

Abstract

ABSTRACT Involvement of the tongue by amyloid is mostly secondary to systemic amyloidosis, with less than 9% of all types of amyloidosis presenting as isolated amyloidosis of the tongue. This is a case report of a 56-year-old patient who presented with mass lesion in the posterior part of tongue since 2 years duration. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed nodular area on posterior aspect of tongue without focal signal intensity and no contrast enhancement. On histopathological examination, the lesion exhibited homogeneous extracellular eosinophilic material. Congo red staining revealed amyloid material as red color under light microscopy and as apple green birefringence under polarized microscope. A definitive diagnosis of localized isolated amyloidosis of tongue was made after detailed workup to rule out the systemic form of amyloidosis. Isolated and localized amyloidosis of tongue is very rare and often mimics benign tumors, thus making the job of the treating doctor more challenging. The foremost task in management of these patients is to rule out the possibility of systemic amyloidosis because the localized forms of the disease may be treated with wide local surgical excision. How to cite this article Singh K, Sharma A. Localized Amyloidosis of Tongue: A Rare Case from India. Int J Head Neck Surg 2016;7(4):225-227.