Clinicopathological characteristics of tongue piercing: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND

This study attempts to remedy the situation that no morphological studies exit of tongue piercing.

METHODS

The tongues of eight Beagles were pierced with titanium implants. The animals were then divided into four groups: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months for clinical-photographic and histopathological studies.

RESULTS

Group I: clinically, erythema at both orifices and, microscopically, granulation tissue covering the surface of the canal and infiltrates of polynuclear neutrophils. Group II: persistence of erythema and of the granulation tissue, with the edges of the epithelium showing signs of regeneration. Group III: granulation tissue alternating with fibrosis; epithelium covering the sides of the canal. Group IV: fibrosis substituting the granulation tissue and almost complete re-epithelialization of the canal. All groups, except group I, numerous foreign body-type granulomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Tongue piercing provokes fibrous reparation with almost total re-epithelialization of the perforated zone and foreign body-like granulomatous inflammation.