Symptomatic osseous choristoma of the posterior dorsal tongue in a 15-year-old girl: A case report and focused review

Introduction and importance Lingual osseous choristoma is an uncommon benign lesion comprising mature bone in an ectopic soft-tissue location. Case presentation A 15-year-old girl from Jordan presented with 6 months of mild dysphagia, intermittent nausea, and occasional pain during swallowing. Examination revealed a hard, pedunculated mass on the posterior dorsal tongue near the foramen cecum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a hyperdense, mineralized lesion. Complete local excision under general anesthesia yielded a 0.7 × 0.6 × 0.5-cm specimen. Histopathology demonstrated mature lamellar bone beneath benign stratified squamous epithelium, without atypia, mitoses, or malignant features, and confirmed clear excision margins. Symptoms were relieved after excision and healing. Routine oral examinations showed no clinical recurrence during four months of follow-up; no postoperative radiological imaging was performed. Clinical discussion Imaging suggested a mineralized lesion, but histopathology established the diagnosis of osseous choristoma. Conclusion Osseous choristoma should be considered in adolescents with a firm, mineralized posterior dorsal tongue lesion. Complete local excision provided tissue for diagnosis and was followed by symptom relief.