geographic tongue /jē′əgraf″ik/ [Gk, ge, earth, graphein, to record; AS, tunge] , a common benign condition of the tongue seen in 1%-3% of the population, more frequently seen in females, in which the dorsum of the tongue possesses multiple zones of erythema surrounded by slightly elevated yellow-white borders. The pattern of lesions can change in appearance every few days or weeks. Patients may experience no sensation, or tenderness with a burning sensation. Also called benign migratory glossitis, erythema migrans, wandering rash of the tongue, erythema areata migrans, stomatitis areata migrans.
