Eosinophilic ulcer of the oral mucosa: report of a recurrent case on the tongue

Eosinophilic ulcer of the oral mucosa (EUOM) is an uncommon lesion that usually affects the tongue. The lesion is benign and self-limiting, develops rapidly and usually disappears after several weeks without treatment. Microscopically, it contains a diffuse polymorphous cell infiltrate composed mainly of eosinophils. The cause of EUOM is unknown, but the condition has been attributed to trauma. We now describe a case of EUOM on the lateral surface of the tongue with recurrence on its dorsal surface 3 years later. The occurrence of multiple lesions, whether at the same time or subsequently as reported here, makes a purely traumatic origin rather unlikely and suggests that there may be a predisposition of some patients to develop EUOM.