Clinicopathological characteristics of tongue piercing:: an experimental study

BACKGROUND: This study attempts to remedy the situation that no morphological studies exit of tongue piercing. METHODS: The tongues of eight Beagles were pierced with titanium implants. The animals were then divided into four groups: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months for clinical-photographic and histopathological studies. RESULTS: Group I: clinically, erythema at both orifices and, microscopically, granulation tissue covering the surface of the canal and infiltrates of polynuclear neutrophils. Group II: persistence of erythema and of the granulation tissue, with the edges of the epithelium showing signs of regeneration. Group III: granulation tissue alternating with fibrosis; epithelium covering the sides of the canal. Group IV: fibrosis substituting the granulation tissue and almost complete re-epithelialization of the canal. All groups, except group I, numerous foreign body-type granulomas. CONCLUSIONS: Tongue piercing provokes fibrous reparation with almost total re-epithelialization of the perforated zone and foreign body-like granulomatous inflammation.