Lingual osseous choristoma of the posterior tongue: A case report

Lingual osseous choristoma is a rare benign lesion characterized by ectopic mature bone within the soft tissues of the tongue, with just over 100 cases reported in the literature. Its clinical presentation is often nonspecific, making diagnosis challenging. A 45-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of a slowly enlarging mass on the posterior dorsal surface of the tongue, initially noted during a routine dental examination. The lesion was asymptomatic, with no associated pain, dysphagia, or bleeding. Clinical examination revealed a firm, whitish, non-ulcerated mass suggestive of a fibroma or an irritated circumvallate papilla. An excisional biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. Histopathological analysis demonstrated mature cortical bone embedded within the lingual submucosa, confirming the diagnosis of lingual osseous choristoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence was observed during a 2-year follow-up. Lingual osseous choristoma is an uncommon but important entity to consider in the differential diagnosis of posterior tongue masses. Surgical excision is both diagnostic and curative, with an excellent prognosis.