Unilateral necrosis of the tongue caused by embolisation of cholesterol crystals

N Kitamura; E Sasabe; H Kitaoka; T Yamamoto

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2018.03.003

Unilateral necrosis of the tongue caused by embolisation of cholesterol crystals

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2018 May;56(4):340-342. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

Authors

N Kitamura¹, E Sasabe², H Kitaoka³, T Yamamoto⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. Electronic address: nkitamura@kochi-u.ac.jp.
² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. Electronic address: yoshieri@kochi-u.ac.jp.
³ Department of Cardiology and Geriatrics, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. Electronic address: kitaokah@kochi-u.ac.jp.
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. Electronic address: yamamott@kochi-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 29599050
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2018.03.003

Abstract

Cholesterol crystals embolise when an aortic atherosclerotic lesion ruptures and cholesterol crystals are scattered and obstruct small peripheral arterioles. Risk factors include both iatrogenic factors such as intravascular catheterisation, and spontaneous factors for atherosclerosis such as aging, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and smoking. We describe the case of an 83-year-old Japanese man who developed unilateral, superficial necrosis of the tongue as a result of spontaneous embolisation of cholesterol crystals.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; cholesterol crystal embolization; spontaneous factor; tongue necrosis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged, 80 and over
Embolism, Cholesterol / complications*
Embolism, Cholesterol / diagnosis
Embolism, Cholesterol / pathology
Humans
Male
Necrosis
Tongue / blood supply
Tongue / pathology
Tongue Diseases / diagnosis
Tongue Diseases / etiology*
Tongue Diseases / pathology