Traumatic eosinophilic ulcer of the oral mucosa.

A typical case of eosinophilic ulcer of the tongue is described. It confirms the traumatic cause for this benign, self-healing lesion that may be misdiagnosed and clinically confused with squamous cell carcinoma. The short time that the lesion takes to heal is an important diagnostic clue in differentiating eosinophilic ulcer of the tongue from cancer, thus sparing the patient unnecessary surgery or radiation therapy. The histopathologic pattern is also diagnostic. We prefer to call this lesion traumatic ulcer of the oral mucosa.