Pathology · single question
A patient has aphthous ulcers on the buccal mucosa. What is the most likely cause?
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Correct answer: A. Unknown etiology
- A. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) has an UNKNOWN exact etiology. Contributing factors include immune dysregulation, trauma, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and genetic predisposition, but no single causative agent has been identified.
- B. Fungi do not cause aphthous ulcers.
- C. Bacteria do not cause aphthous ulcers directly.
- D. Aphthous ulcers are NOT caused by viruses (unlike herpetic ulcers, which are viral and have different clinical features).
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