Acquired ectopic hypertrichosis of the tongue

KT Ashique

 Department of Dermatology, KIMS AL SHIFA Super Speciality Hospital, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India

Correspondence Address:
K T Ashique
Department of Dermatology, KIMS AL SHIFA Super Specialty Hospital, Perinthlamanna, Kerala - 679 322
India

A middle-aged South Indian man consulted us for hair growing on his tongue and excessive drooling of saliva following surgery for a squamus cell carcinoma [Figure - 1]. One month before he developed the symptoms, he had undergone right hemiglossectomy and submental flap reconstruction for squamous cell carcinoma (T3N1M0) of the right lateral aspect of the tongue. He had difficulty in speaking and eating due to restricted tongue movement immediately following surgery and noticed hair growth thereafter. Hair had grown from persisting follicles on the flap that was raised from the hair-bearing skin of the submental area. He was advised mechanical depilation.

Figure 1: Terminal hair on the right side of the tongue

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