Lingual juvenile xanthogranuloma in a woman: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that usually occurs during infancy and early childhood. The presence of single or multiple raised cutaneous lesions characterize this self-healing disorder. Extracutaneous sites are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a rare case of oral juvenile xanthogranuloma in a 49-year-old Caucasian woman. The histopathologic diagnosis of the lingual neoformation was histiocitary proliferation with the presence of giant cells, Touton type, compatible with juvenile xanthogranuloma. CONCLUSION: To establish an accurate diagnosis, microscopic evaluation and immunohistochemical staining are necessary. Dentists, dermatologists and general practitioners may be the first to recognize this rare condition during the inspection of the oral cavity.