Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Oral - Radiology and Diagnosis

Introduction: Oral ulcers form a category of the most commonly encountered oral lesions. It contains a wide variety that ranges from completely benign and self-limiting types to fatal and malignant types. Each of these types has different clinical presentation and an impact on all aspects of life. Hence, the current study aims to determine the prevalence of oral ulcers in adult patients visiting oral diagnosis clinic in faculty of oral and dental Medicine, Cairo university. It also aims to estimate the impact of oral ulcers on quality of life (QoL) and to report different used treatment options for oral ulcers and their effectiveness. Methods: This aim was achieved through a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire that was filled to 605 adult patients attending oral diagnosis clinic in faculty of oral and dental medicine, Cairo university. Then clinical examination was performed. If an oral ulcer was detected, the other questionnaire sections were filled. The other sections include OHIP-14 to detect impact of the oral ulcer on OHRQoL, types of previously used therapies and its effectiveness, number and specialties of previously visited clinicians. Results: Results showed that prevalence of oral ulcers in the participants was 10.3%, half of them had RAS. 59.7% of the oral ulcer patients were referred from other clinicians; 40.5% of which were not indicated for referral. Percentage of misdiagnosis was 53.8% from the previously diagnosed patients and undiagnosed cases were 78.4% from the referred cases. The high percentages of misdiagnosed, undiagnosed and unnecessarily referred patients reflect the poor efficiency of undergraduate oral Medicine education and training

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