EOSINOPHILIC ULCER: REPORT OF 4 CASES

Eosinophilic ulcer (EU) is a chronic, benign, and self-limiting condition, more common in the tongue of men. This study reports 4 patients diagnosed as having EU. Of the cases studied, 3 involved men and 1 involved a woman, with a mean age of 60 years. All lesions were described as ulcers covered by a membrane of fibrin with raised margins, which were rigid to touch, and a red halo located at lateral tongue. The mean lesion size was 1.45 cm, and the lesions were present for 10 to 60 days. Squamous cell carcinoma was among probable diagnostic hypothesis in all cases. An incisional biopsy was performed, and the histopathologic analysis revealed an EU in all cases with intense inflammatory infiltrate and presence of eosinophils. After the biopsy and removal of the causative agent (if detected), all the lesions regressed. Performing a biopsy is extremely important to differentiate EU from squamous cell carcinoma.