Central papillary atrophy of the tongue

Twenty-eight cases of central papillary atrophy of the tongue (CPA) are presented. Vegetative Candida species were commonly but not invariably seen on cytologic and histologic examination. Follow-up of fifteen cases showed spontaneous resolution of three. It is suggested that CPA of the tongue represents a clinical rather than a pathologic entity, and that the underlying disease process may not be identical in all cases.