Ulcerative Diseases
Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
aka RAS · Canker sores
Recurrent, painful, self-limiting oral ulcers on non-keratinised mucosa in otherwise healthy individuals.
§ figuresFigures (3)
Fig. 1A case of Aphthous stomatitis in my mouth
“Aphthous Stomatitis in the mouth” · RaydenAG · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 2Aphthous Stomatitis
“Aphthous stomatitisNZ” · DermNetNZ · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 3Mouth ulcer associated with Aphthous stomatitis on the labial mucosa
“Aphthous stomatitis on the labial mucosa” · Farhan 9909 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Verified open-access images only, reproduced for education under their stated licences · no AI-generated or illustrative artwork · Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis figures pending faculty review.
§ overviewOverview
Recurrent, painful, self-limiting oral ulcers on non-keratinised mucosa in otherwise healthy individuals.
§ etiologyEtiology
- 01Genetic predisposition
- 02Stress
- 03Trauma
- 04Nutritional deficiency (B12, folate, iron)
- 05Hormonal changes
- 06Sensitivity to SLS
§ clinicalClinical Features
- 01Prodrome of tingling
- 02Round ulcer, yellow-grey floor, erythematous halo
- 03Non-keratinised mucosa
§ differentialDifferential Diagnosis
- 01Herpes simplex
- 02Behçet disease
- 03Crohn's disease
- 04Cyclic neutropenia
- 05SCC (chronic solitary ulcer)
§ classificationClassification
- 01Minor (< 1 cm, heals 7–14 d)
- 02Major (Sutton — > 1 cm, heals weeks with scarring)
- 03Herpetiform (multiple pinpoint)
§ treatmentTreatment
- 01Topical corticosteroids (triamcinolone in Orabase)
- 02Chlorhexidine mouthwash
- 03Topical anaesthetics for symptom control
- 04Systemic steroids / colchicine for major RAS
§ prognosisPrognosis
Self-limiting; recurrent throughout life for many patients.
§ vivaBDS Viva Questions
- 01Differentiate herpetiform aphthae from herpes simplex.
§ mcqsMCQs — Assessment (1)
Question 1
Sutton disease refers to:
§ evidenceReferences & Evidence
Current Classification
WHO Classification of Tumours Online — Head and Neck
IARC / WHO · 2022
Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.
Evidence summary
Highest level of evidence linked to this page: WHO / Official Classification.
- L1 · Classification — 1
- L6 · Textbook — 3
1 linked source was published from 2024 onwards. Where guidance is limited or contested, rely on the higher-level sources above rather than this summary. Educational use only — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Content last reviewed
September 2026
Evidence last reviewed
September 2026
Next scheduled review
September 2027
Review status
EVIDENCE REVIEWED
Search latest PubMed evidence
Last literature search: 7 September 2026
Current Classification
IARC / WHO. IARC · 2022
Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.
Histopathology References
Barnes L. CRC Press · 2008
Detailed histopathological reference for head and neck diagnostic criteria.
Textbook References
Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM et al.. Elsevier · 2024
Standard reference textbook of oral and maxillofacial pathology used throughout this atlas.
Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B. Elsevier · 2020
Undergraduate and postgraduate oral pathology textbook widely used in BDS and FCPS curricula.
Draft — pending faculty review. Educational use only; verify against current guidelines and primary sources before clinical application.