Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumour (ECT) is an extremely rare intraoral mesenchymal tumour. Most of these tumours have been identified on the anterior aspect of the dorsal surface of the tongue. ECT is difficult to diagnose because of its rarity. We report a case of ECT arising on the lateral border of the tongue in a 67-year-old woman. The tumour, measuring 20 × 10 mm in size, was surgically removed. Histopathologically, the tumour was composed of small polygonal cells arranged in sheets, with a myxoid or hyalinized stroma. The tumour boundary was clear; however, the tumour showed a multinodular structure expanding along the tongue surface without obvious capsule. Careful examination revealed the tumour nodule to be spreading in a skip lesion-like fashion away from the main part of the tumour in the striated muscle layer. Although there was no evidence of recurrence at 18 months after the surgery, our observations suggest that surgery for ECT resection with a safety margin is more appropriate than enucleation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the frequency and distribution of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) involving tongue among patients by studying biopsy specimens obtained from the archives of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India, during the past 13 years.
METHODS: Data for the study were retrieved from the case records of patients. Analyzed clinical variables included age, sex, anatomical site, and histological diagnosis.
RESULTS: Of the 369 squamous cell carcinoma involving head and neck region, we found 52 biopsies reported exclusively involving tongue. Lateral border of the tongue was most commonly involved (43 cases, 82.7%), followed by base of tongue and posterior part of tongue. The patient were affected over a wide range of 27-80 years with mean age of 55.75 years and peak incidence was seen in the fourth and fifth decades of life, with the male: female ratio of 1.7:1.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of OSCC involving tongue showed a definite geographic variation when compared with a study done in other parts of the world.