The tongue is an essential organ that performs various functions such as communication, mastication, and swallowing. Despite its importance, the tongue is often overlooked in medical examination and pathological changes may go unnoticed for a long time. These changes can be classified into groups such as inflammatory changes, infectious and contagious diseases, trauma changes, precancerous and cancerous changes, and indications of systemic diseases. Trauma changes can result from accidental biting, burns from hot food or beverages, cuts from sharp objects, and injuries from sports or physical activities. Precancerous changes such as leukoplakia and erythroplakia, as well as cancerous changes such as squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, can occur on the tongue. Factors that increase the risk of developing tongue cancer include tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, certain strains of HPV, age, and gender. Furthermore, systemic diseases such as iron deficiency, pernicious anemia, megaloblastic anemia, diabetes mellitus, Sjögren's syndrome, ulcerative colitis, amyloidosis, Kawasaki disease, and systemic sclerosis can also show characteristic oral manifestations. Early diagnosis of these conditions is important for effective management and prevention of irreversible complications.

Key words: tongue, candidiasis, megaloblastic anemia, traumatic fibroma, linea alba, leukoplakia.