Tongue abscess: a rare clinical entity.

Swelling of the tongue is a rare clinical entity. It is a potentially life-threatening condition, as it could result in airway compromise. The differential diagnosis of acute tongue swelling includes hemorrhage, infarction, abscess, tumor, and edema. A tongue abscess should be considered in all cases of acute tongue swelling, especially when host defenses are severely impaired. Although the diagnosis of lingual abscess can be reached clinically because of the rarity of the condition, in neglected cases, the diagnosis can be difficult. Despite of the rarity and complexity of this condition, its management strategy is relatively simple. In the present study, we describe a case of a tongue abscess on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue in a 60-year-old woman, and discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this complex entity.