| Caviar tongue | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sublingual varicosities orSublingual varices |
 | |
| Normal appearance of the undersurface of the tongue, showing prominent veins | |
Caviar tongue is a condition characterized by the purplishnodularswelling of veins found on theundersurface of the tongue.[1]
It is normal for there to be veins visible underneath the tongue, partly because themucous membrane is so thin and translucent in this region, but where these vessels become dilated and tortuous, they may appear round and black likecaviar.[2] Caviar tongue is also referred to assublingual varices (plural) and varix (singular) and look like varicose veins in the tongue. It is a benign, asymptomatic, venous lesion.
It was first described byWilliam Bennett Bean in 1952, when he thought it looked likecaviar.[3]