Treatment of Atrophic Glossitis Presenting with Numbness of Tongue Mucosa

Clinical Scenario

This protocol addresses atrophic glossitis (AG) in patients who report numbness of the tongue mucosa — a symptom frequently affecting the tongue tip or lateral border. Tongue numbness is among the more common sensory complaints seen in AG and represents a distinct presentation requiring a targeted therapeutic approach.

Presenting Condition

Numbness of tongue mucosa, typically localised to the tip or lateral border of the tongue, is a well-documented manifestation of atrophic glossitis, reported in more than half of AG patients across large clinical series.

Treatment Approach (Overview)

The intervention used in this protocol centres on vitamin B12 supplementation, with either an intramuscular or oral route of administration. The clinical goal is reduction of numbness of the tongue.

The complete regimen — including route selection, duration, and sequencing — is available in the full structured protocol below.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

Numbness of tongue mucosa, usually at the tip or lateral border of the tongue, is noted in 57.4% of 176 AG patients and in 50.7% of 1064 AG patients in our previous study.

For these AG patients, intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 or oral administration of vitamin B12 for 2–3 months are effective to reduce the numbness of the tongue in some of our AG patients.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2019.04.015

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