The appearance of map-like patterns on the back of the tongue is usually called “map tongue”, map tongue is more common, both men and women can develop, but more common in children and adolescents. The map tongue mostly occurs on the tip of the tongue, the anterior part of the dorsal tongue and the lateral edge of the tongue, but can also appear in other parts of the oral mucosa, such as the palate, cheeks, lips and other mucous membranes. The map tongue is characterized by atrophy of the filiform papillae, leaving a round or oval red smooth exfoliated area with a slightly elevated yellow-white curved periphery, forming a clear perimeter with the surrounding normal mucosa, resembling a map, hence the name “map tongue”. The lesions vary in shape and size, and can exist singly or in multiples, or can be fused with each other throughout the dorsum of the tongue. They can appear suddenly, last for days or weeks, or change their original shape and position overnight, while the original lesions return to normal, thus often showing alternating states of recovery and new atrophy, also known as “wandering tongue”. The etiology of map tongue is still unclear, and some patients with map tongue have an obvious family history. There are no obvious conscious symptoms, but some patients sometimes have a mild tingling and burning sensation. The map tongue has a clear tendency to heal itself, with intervals of remission, and the damage heals without leaving any trace. Sometimes it also heals and does not recur. There is no need to be anxious about having a map tongue, it usually does not require treatment, and there is no effective treatment.