Tongue fissures. A classification and comparative prevalence study among 825 European Caucasian and 605 Xhosa Negro school children.

Six distinct patterns of tongue fissuring have been observed: plication, central longitudinal fissuring, double fissures, transverse fissures arising from a central fissure (type "A"), transverse fissures without a central fissure (type "B") and lateral longitudinal fissures. Some tongues exhibited more than one pattern. There was a significant correlation between double fissures and central longitudinal fissuring (P less than 0.002) but not between other forms of fissuring. No significant relationship was found between the occurrence of atrophic lesions and the prese-ce of fissuring. Significant differences were found between the prevalences in Xhosa and Europeans for central longitudinal fissuring, double fissures and both types of transverse fissures but not for plication. No significant differences were found between males and females and in the age distribution for those with and those without each type of fissuring. It is suggested that most tongue fissuring seen in children should be considered variations in normal anatomy rather than an abnormality.