Pathology · single question

Nicotinic stomatitis (smoker's palate) — if a patient has a lesion on the TONGUE, which of the following would NOT be in the differential diagnosis?

  1. Median rhomboid glossitis
  2. Hairy tongue
  3. Geographic tongue
  4. Nicotinic stomatitis (affects the PALATE, not the tongue)
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Nicotinic stomatitis (affects the PALATE, not the tongue)

  • A. Median rhomboid glossitis is a tongue lesion in the midline dorsum — it IS in the DDx.
  • B. Hairy tongue (elongated filiform papillae) occurs on the dorsum of the tongue — it IS a tongue lesion.
  • C. Geographic tongue (migratory glossitis) is a common benign tongue condition — it IS in the DDx for tongue lesions.
  • D. Correct. NICOTINIC STOMATITIS is caused by chronic exposure to hot pipe/cigar smoke and appears as GREY-WHITE THICKENING with RED DOTS (inflamed duct orifices) on the HARD PALATE — not the tongue. Therefore it is NOT a differential diagnosis for a tongue lesion.

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