Peer-review started: October 8, 2015
First decision: November 30, 2015
Revised: December 23, 2015
Accepted: February 14, 2016
Article in press: February 16, 2016
Published online: May 2, 2016
Processing time: 207 Days and 19.6 Hours
Differentiating between oral psoriasis and geographic tongue is difficult and controversial because some patients with geographic tongue do not necessarily have psoriasis. Furthermore, the number of clinical studies, reporting histopathological and genetic evidence for the definitive diagnosis of oral psoriasis, is limited. The aim of this literature review was to obtain data for supporting the diagnosis of oral psoriasis with particular emphasis on the relationship between psoriasis and geographic tongue. Based on the current data, it can be concluded that geographic tongue is the most common oral lesion in psoriasis, and histopathological, immunohistochemical, and genetic similarities have been observed between the two diseases. This review also emphasizes the importance of conducting oral examinations in patients with psoriasis and skin examinations in patients with geographic tongue.
Core tip: The occurrence of oral lesions in psoriasis is rare; however, some authors consider geographic tongue as an oral manifestation of psoriasis. Furthermore, the number of clinical studies, providing histopathological and genetic evidence for the definitive diagnosis of oral psoriasis, is limited. The aim of this literature review was to investigate the current data on oral psoriasis with an emphasis on the relationship between psoriasis and geographic tongue.