PGCEE MDS 2022: Bald tongue due to vitamin B12 deficiency is called as:

 # Bald tongue due to vitamin B12 deficiency is called as:

A. Moeller’s glossitis

B. Benign migratory glossitis

C. Strawberry tongue

D. Gingivostomatitis

The correct answer is A. Moeller's glossitis.

Pernicious Anemia, or Addison's anemia or Biermer's anemia

• Seen due to deficiency of Vit. B12 or Erythrocyte maturation factor or extrinsic factor.

• Peripheral neuropathy due to degeneration of posterior and lateral tracts of the spinal cord with loss of nerve fibers and degeneration of myelin sheath is seen.

• Tongue is "beefy red" in color and characteristically shows glossitis, glossodynia, and glossopyrosis.

• There is gradual atrophy of papillae of the tongue resulting in a "bald" tongue which is often referred to as Hunter's glossitis or Moeller's glossitis which is similar to the "bald tongue of sandwith" seen in pellagra.

 • RBC count of < 1 million, macrocytosis, poikilocytosis, polychromatophilic cells, stippled cells, nucleated cells, Howell-Jolloy bodies, and Cabot's ring are the laboratory findings.

• Bone marrow studies reveal immature red cells or MEGALOBLASTS. Polymacrocytes (macropolyps) are large polymorphonuclear leukocytes with large poly-lobed nuclei are also found.

• Achlorhydria or lack of HCL secretion is a constant feature of the disease.

• The oral and general manifestations of "sprue" are closely related to pernicious anemia.