Atrophic glossitis leading to the diagnosis of celiac disease.

Diagnosing celiac disease is relatively easy in typical cases, characterized by the classic features of chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and distention, and weight loss. However, most patients have atypical celiac disease, with few or no gastrointestinal symptoms and a predominance of extraintestinal features. Patients with celiac disease are prone to the development of long-term complications that are responsible for a mortality rate higher than that in the general population. Our report should alert physicians and dental practitioners to consider celiac disease in managing cases of idiopathic atrophic glossitis.