SUBGEMMAL NEUROGENOUS PLAQUE: REPORT OF 3 CASES

Subgemmal neurogenous plaque (SNP) is a neural structure present in the posterolateral border of the tongue, forming a morphophysiological complex with the taste buds. It was first described 20 years ago, and still now it is not well recognized by clinicians and pathologists. The aim of this study is to report 3 cases of SNP incidentally found after biopsies of posterior tongue lesions (lymphoepithelial cyst, lymphatic malformation, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma). The plexus usually exhibits a biphasic pattern, with bundle of fusiform wavy cells parallel to the epithelial surface, and a deepest portion composed of small nerve fascicles. The clinical findings of the SNP are unspecific, but several cases are symptomatic. The histologic pattern can be mistaken for soft tissue reactive or neoplastic neural lesions, which makes the recognition of the morphologic aspects of this anatomic structure very important.