Quantitative study on tongue color in primary liver cancer patients by analysis system for comprehensive information of tongue diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of tongue color in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). METHODS: Tongue color and its RGB value were analyzed quantitatively for PLC patients in different clinical periods and other cancer patients by analysis system for comprehensive information of tongue diagnosis. RESULTS: The rate of blue and purple tongue was higher (P<0.05) and all the values of RGB were lower (P<0.01) in PLC patients compared with other cancer patients. In different clinical periods, the rate of blue and purple tongue in stage III was the highest (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The blue and purple tongue is one of the most important tongue characteristics of PLC patients.