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Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(5):653-658.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Diagnosis: Cartilaginous choristoma of the tongue.

MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS AND CLINICAL COURSE

Histologic examination of the surgical specimen revealed a well-circumscribed submucosal nodule composed of a central area of hyaline cartilage surrounded by dense, fibrous connective tissue. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and there were no signs of recurrence 6 months later.

DISCUSSION

The term choristoma applies to a cohesive tumorlike mass consisting of normal cells in an abnormal location. Only a few cases of tumorlike masses composed of differentiated cartilage have been reported in the soft tissue of the oral cavity.¹ The majority of case reports are found in the dental or oral surgery literature.

Although the origin of these lesions is unknown, several hypotheses have been offered, including the possibility that they represent (1) metaplastic change secondary to trauma, (2) cartilaginous embryonic rests, (3) developmental malformations from pluripotent cells, (4) salivary gland mixed tumors with predominance of cartilage, (5) benign neoplasm, or (6) teratomas with preponderance of cartilage. At present, . . . [Full Text of this Article]