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Riga-Fede disease

Author: Dr Delwyn Dyall-Smith FACD, Dermatologist, Australia, 2011.


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What is Riga-Fede disease?

Riga-Fede disease is a mouth ulcer seen in infants and is usually caused by rubbing the tongue over teeth. The ulcer may be uncomfortable but it is otherwise harmless. Less commonly other parts of the mouth may be involved. It is also known as sublingual ulceration, sublingual traumatic ulceration, traumatic lingual ulceration, sublingual traumatic atrophic glossitis, sublingual fibrogranuloma, traumatic granuloma of the tongue, traumatic ulcerative granuloma with stromal eosinophilia, eosinophilic granuloma, traumatic eosinophilic ulceration of the tongue and sublingual growth in infants.

Who gets Riga-Fede disease and why?

Riga-Fede disease is rare. It usually develops when the tongue is rubbed repeatedly over the teeth, usually the lower front teeth. It most commonly complicates natal or neonatal teeth as the newborn baby pushes the tongue forward when feeding (infantile tongue thrusting reflex) and the tongue lies between the alveolar ridges. It can also develop in older babies when their lower front teeth erupt at the normal time. The usual age range is 1 week to 1 year, with peaks in early infancy and 6–8 months of age. However, there have been rare reports of it affecting older children and adults.

There is a strong association with cerebral palsy, especially when the tongue is affected by spasticity, in which case the course can be prolonged.

Other associations reported include:

  • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (MIM300322)
  • Tourette syndrome (MIM137580)
  • Familial dysautonomia (Riley-Day syndrome, MIM223900)
  • Microcephaly (small head)
  • Macroglossia (large tongue) with tongue protrusion
  • Tongue biting.

Males more commonly develop Riga-Fede disease than females.

What are the clinical features of Riga-Fede disease?

Riga-Fede disease usually affects the tip and under surface of the tongue, matching the location of the lower front teeth. Less commonly the top of the tongue is involved due to repeated contact with upper front teeth. The gum opposite a natal/neonatal tooth can be affected. Any location in the mouth can be affected, including the lips and inside the cheeks due to repetitive biting.

Riga-Fede disease begins as an ulcer and it can sometimes look like the tip of the tongue has been eaten away. The base of the ulcer is covered by a yellow fibrinopurulent membrane that can be wiped off. There is usually surrounding redness and often a raised white edge immediately next to the ulcer. Less commonly an ulcerated raised fibrous mass develops.

As the ulcer can be very painful, Riga-Fede disease may affect feeding and therefore dehydration, malnutrition and failure-to-thrive can result if unrecognised and untreated.

Spontaneous recovery can occur.

How is Riga-Fede disease diagnosed?

Biopsy should be considered for lesions that persist for 2 weeks after removing a suspected cause.

Histopathology shows an ulcerated surface with an underlying mixed inflammatory infiltrate including lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells and a predominance of eosinophils. Riga-Fede disease is, therefore, a cause of eosinophilic ulcer. Atypical histiocytic granulomas may also be seen.

A biopsy may be required to exclude other conditions affecting the tongue including:

A neurological evaluation may be required to look for one of the reported associations, as Riga Fede disease can be an early sign of a neurological or developmental problem.

What is the treatment of Riga-Fede disease?

Conservative treatment may include:

  • Smoothing the rough edges of the teeth
  • Protective covering of the teeth e.g. with rounded smooth composite resin, Stomahesive wafers or rings
  • Change of feeding method
  • Topical cortisone application to the ulcer

Extraction of teeth is rarely indicated and may be complicated by the movement of adjacent teeth to fill the space and therefore overcrowding later

 

References

  • Baghdadi ZD. Riga–Fede disease: association with microcephaly. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2002;12(6):442–5. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-263x.2002.00396.x. PubMed
  • Buchanan S, Jenkins CR. Riga-Fedes syndrome: Natal or neonatal teeth associated with tongue ulceration. Case report. Austral Dent J 1997; 42: 225–7. PubMed
  • Ceyhan AM, Yildirim M, Basak PY, Akkaya VB, Ayata A. Traumatic lingual ulcer in a child: Riga–Fede disease. Clin Exp Dermatol 2008; 34: 186–8. PubMed
  • Choi SC, Park JH, Choi YC, Kim G-T. Sublingual traumatic ulceration (a Riga-Fede disease): report of two cases. Dental Traumatology 2009; 25: e48–e50; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-9657.2009.00773.x. PubMed
  • Taghi A, Motamedi MK. Riga-Fede disease: A histological study and case report. Indian J Dent Res 2009; 20: 227–9. PubMed

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