Histopathology of Ulcers
Histopathology of Ulcers
- Last updated October 26, 2025
Objectives
By the end of these revision notes, you should be able to:
Definition
An ulcer is a discontinuity of the epithelial lining of the skin or mucous membrane, resulting in a loss of surface tissue. This usually leads to exposure of underlying connective tissue.
There are many causes for ulcers in the oral cavity including:
- Trauma
- Infections
- Immune-mediated diseases
- Systemic disease
- Cancer
Histopathology of Ulcers
The histological appearance of an ulcer tends to vary based on the duration and the underlying cause. However, there are some common features noted in all ulcers.
Early/Acute Ulcer
The key features noted in an early ulcer include:
- Loss of surface epithelium with exposure of underlying connective tissue
- Necrotic slough on ulcer surface – this is usually composed of fibrin, neutrophils and bacteria
- Underlying area of acute inflammation with neutrophils
- Capillary dilation and oedoma
There is typically an absence of fibroblasts are the healing response hasn’t begun at this stage.
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