Verruca Vulgaris of the Tongue

Abstract

The viral warts also known as verruca vulgaris are caused by papova group of viruses. Such warts are commonly seen on the skin but occasionally may appear in the oral cavity. There are three types of warts namely verruca plana; verruca vulgaris and filiform. The incubation period of such warts varies from 6 weeks to a year. The warts spread by autoinoculation and seldom show koebner phenomenon. The majority of mucosal warts are seen in those children who also have warts on hands. In such cases the virus may be transported to the lips and tongue during an act of chewing of warts on hands. A 42-year-old male patient reported with the chief complaint of multiple, nontender, large white finger like projections on the right lateral border of the tongue. The duration of the lesion was approximately 3 years. Patient also had two similar papillary exophytic lesion over achilles tendon of right leg. Excision of the lesion from the right lateral border of the tongue was done under local anaesthesia and sent for histopathology examination, the histopathology report was suggestive of verruca vulgaris. Post-op follow up was done for 1 year, no recurrence of the lesion reported.