Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate patients suffering from burning mouth syndrome
(BMS) and control subjects by means of sensory testing and fungiform papillae count.
Study design
The left and right anterior two-thirds of the tongue of of 25 BMS subjects and 20
healthy control subjects were evaluated for electric taste and electric detection
threshold. The number of fungiform papillae/cm2 was evaluated by using close-up digital photography.
Results
The electric taste/tingling detection threshold ratio was significantly higher in
BMS compared with control subjects (P = .041). No difference was found between the number of fungiform papillae/cm2 in the BMS compared with the control subjects (P = .277). Patients suffering from BMS for a prolonged period of time presented with
a significantly elevated electric taste/tingling detection threshold ratio (P = .031).
Conclusions
BMS may be a neurodegenerative process with chorda tympani nerve hypofuction potentially
playing a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 23, 2011
Accepted:
February 20,
2011
Received in revised form:
February 16,
2011
Received:
October 11,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
