Mouth ulcers are common and produce a variety of symptoms, ranging from intermittent discomfort to debilitating pain with effects on speech, chewing and swallowing. Clinically, mouth ulcers can be challenging, as a wide range of diagnoses can give rise to lesions of similar appearance. Although the majority of lesions are benign and require little clinical input, others may signify undiagnosed systemic disease or malignancy, warranting prompt investigation and treatment. Separation of differential diagnoses is driven largely by a thorough history and identification of malignant features on examination. We provide an overview of mouth ulcers and a guide to management.
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