Osseous choristoma of the tongue.

I have reported three cases of asymptomatic osseous choristoma of the tongue and reviewed the 38 previously reported cases, 80% of which occurred in women and in patients less than 40 years old. Most osseous choristomas are located in the posterior third of the tongue and primarily in the vicinity of the foramen cecum and/or circumvallate papillae. Derivation from a remnant of the cartilaginous matrix of the second and third branchial arches is the favored hypothesis of origin. Simple excision is adequate. None has recurred.