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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Denver Papillae Protocol for Objective Analysis of Fungiform Papillae
Published on: June 8, 2015
Pigmented fungiform papillae on the tongue in an Asian man
Catherine E Scarff1, Robin Marks
1Department of Medicine (Dermatology), The University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
Fungiform papillae of the tongue vary in their appearance. It is not rare for them to be pigmented in black subjects, but this is less common in Asians. We report a case of pigmented fungiform papillae in a 65-year-old Vietnamese man. The patient also had recurrent aphthous ulceration and hepatitis C. Pigmentation affected all fungiform papillae and was asymptomatic. Macrocytosis was noted on full blood examination, while liver function tests were normal. The pigmentation of the fungiform papillae remained stable.
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