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Review
. 2014 Apr;58(2):281-97.
doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2013.12.002. Epub 2014 Jan 21.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Sunday O Akintoye  1 , Martin S Greenberg  2
Affiliations
Review

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Sunday O Akintoye et al. Dent Clin North Am. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common ulcerative disease affecting the oral mucosa. RAS occurs mostly in healthy individuals and has an atypical clinical presentation in immunocompromised individuals. The etiology of RAS is still unknown, but several local, systemic, immunologic, genetic, allergic, nutritional, and microbial factors, as well as immunosuppressive drugs, have been proposed as causative agents. Clinical management of RAS using topical and systemic therapies is based on severity of symptoms and the frequency, size, and number of lesions. The goals of therapy are to decrease pain and ulcer size, promote healing, and decrease the frequency of recurrence.

Keywords: Aphthous; Behçet disease; Crohn disease; Immunologic; Nutritional deficiency; Psychological stress; Systemic therapy; Topical therapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Minor aphthous ulcer on the lower lip
Figure 2
Figure 2
Major aphthous ulcer on the lower lip (A), maxillary unattached gingiva (B) and anterior tongue (C). The ulcers display characteristic erythematous halo and central yellowish-gray pseudomembrane.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Ulcer with indurated margin on the buccal mucosa of a patient with Crohn’s disease.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Aphthous-like lesion in a patient with advanced HIV disease.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Major RAS on left buccal mucosa responding to pentoxifylline therapy. Note the progressive healing and absence of pseudomembrane in a section of the ulcer (black arrowheads)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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