Osteoma of the base of the tongue

A 14-year-old girl developed a firm mass at the base of the tongue. Computed tomography indicated marked density suggesting either a foreign body or bony tissue. A thyroid scan confirmed the presence of a normally sized and positioned gland. The mass was removed in toto and found to be an osteoma. This is the first report of a case in which the diagnosis of this rare developmental lesion of the tongue was achieved preoperatively based on clinical and radiologic information. This experience should lead to greater awareness of this entity in the future. Recognition of this entity in the pediatric age group is especially useful in avoiding misdiagnosis of other, potentially more aggressive types of tongue mass lesions. Our case demonstrates that it is possible to detect this entity using computed tomography. The dense calcification is truly characteristic of the tumor and may be relied upon to exclude alternative soft tissue mass lesions. While other forms of osseous and cartilagenous neoplasms, such as extraskeletal osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, have been reported arising in the tongue, their malignant nature should otherwise be readily apparent. Osteoma of the tongue is the favored diagnosis when mature bone tissue is imaged at the base of the tongue.