A likely diagnosis for a patient with a benign papillary lesion on the tongue is which of the following?

• A. Fibroma
• B. Squamous cell carcinoma
• C. Papilloma
• D. Chondroma

Answer: (C)

A benign papillary lesion on the tongue is most consistent with a diagnosis of papilloma. Oral papillomas, or squamous papillomas, are benign epithelial tumors that arise from the stratified squamous epithelium of the oral mucosa. They are characterized by finger-like projections and are usually caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) infection. Papillomas are typically painless and can appear as small, wart-like growths, which aligns with the description of a benign lesion on the tongue.

In contrast, a fibroma is a fibrous tissue growth that generally appears as a firm nodule but is not specifically characterized by the papillary form. Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that would often present with more concerning features, such as ulceration or induration, which would not fit the benign nature of papillary lesions. Chondroma is a benign cartilage tumor and is not relevant to the tissues of the tongue, which primarily consists of skeletal muscle and squamous epithelium. Therefore, papilloma is the most appropriate diagnosis based on the information provided.