Evasive Eragrostis: A Unique Case of Intralingual Plant Implantation with Persistent Viability
Lauren Mariano*, Connor Witty and Alyson Vu
ABSTRACT
Foreign body (FB) entrapment in the oral cavity is not an implausible occurrence given the nature and function of the digestive tract. However, foreign body implantation of plant matter in the tongue is a rare phenomenon with little literature to date. This case report describes a 23-year-old male with no significant medical history experiencing an enlarged mass of changing morphology on the anterolateral border of the tongue. A retained grass FB of the genus Eragrostis was identified upon spontaneous release from the lesion, and the patient’s pain subsided without operative intervention. This report aims to bring awareness to healthcare providers about the possibility of organic material embedding within human tissue and mimicking infectious or inflammatory pathology. Combined with the appropriate diagnostic tools, this approach can expedite diagnosis and treatment.
