Healing of specialized tongue epithelium following cryosurgery

Although cryosurgery of oral tissues has been extensively studied, there is little information concerning healing and repapillation of the dorsum of the tongue. Using light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy, an investigation of the sequence of reformation of papillae was carried out in the hamster. Four days postoperatively there was mitotic activity and cell migration at the periphery of the wound. At the edge of the ulcer there were partially damaged tongue papillae with evidence of recovery. Damaged papillae had regenerated completely within 2 weeks. In the central ulcerated area, epithelium healed by migration and, within this new epithelium, tongue papillae commenced to form by a process similar to that seen in the fetal tongue. Repapillation of the central area of the lesion was complete 6 weeks after operation, leaving minimal scarring. The details of these processes are described.