Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide therapy for inflammatory oral ulcers

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report on the clinical indications and treatment outcomes of intralesional steroid therapy (IST) for oral ulcerative conditions in an oral medicine practice. Study Design: This was a retrospective single-center study of patients with oral ulcerative conditions treated with IST. Demographic data, clinical diagnosis of the oral condition, size of the ulcer, and pain were abstracted from patients’ electronic medical records. Results: Ninety-three patients (51 females [54.8%]) were treated for persistent traumatic oral ulcers (n = 38 [40.8%]), ulcers in oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (n = 23 [24.7%]), oral lichen planus (n = 19 [20.4%]), and other conditions (14%). Complete resolution was achieved in 81.7% of patients in a median of 96 days (range 10–357 days), with 80% fully healed in a median of 84 days (range 10–140 days). Overall, patients received a median of 2 injections (range 1–5 injections) and a median dose of 12 mg per injection (range 2–36 mg). Nearly half the patients were also treated with concomitant topical steroid therapy. After the first injection, the median pain score reduced from 5 (range 1–10) to 1 (range 0–10; P < .001) and the median size of ulcers reduced from 1 cm (range 0.1–5 cm) to 0.3 cm (range 0–2 cm; P < .001). Conclusions: IST may be an effective treatment for inflammatory and immune-mediated oral ulcers.