Oral cavity & oropharynx

Inflammatory / immune mediated (noninfectious)

Aphthous ulcers



Last author update: 1 June 2013
Last staff update: 12 October 2020

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PubMed Search: Aphthous ulcers[TI] oral cavity

Patricia DeVilliers, D.D.S., M.S.
Charu Thakral, M.D.
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Cite this page: DeVilliers P, Thakral C. Aphthous ulcers. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/oralcavityaphthous.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Also called canker sores
  • Affect 40% in U.S.
  • More common up to 20 years
  • Painful, recurrent and familial
Case reports
Treatment
  • Symptomatic
Clinical images

Images hosted on other servers:

Aphthous ulcers



26 year old man:

Minor ulcer

Major ulcer

Laser therapy

After one week of laser treatment

Gross description
  • Single or multiple, shallow, hyperemic ulcerations covered by a thin exudate with hyperemic rim
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Initially mononuclear infiltrate, then neutrophilic infiltrate from secondary bacterial infection
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