Abstract
Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a benign, inflammatory lesion of the salivary gland characterized by extensive necrosis of glandular tissue with squamous metaplasia. Since it resembles, both clinically and histologically, squamous cells or mucoepidermoid carcinoma, it is often misdiagnosed as malignant tumors. Hewever, it heals spontaneously within a few weeks. For this reason, it must be diagnosed circumspectly to avoid unnecessary treatment resulting from mistaken diagnosis.
A 21 year-old woman complained of a swollen, painful lesion on her left hard palate. Oral examination revealed a 15×9mm swollen lesion with a small ulcer in the left posterior hard palate and a clinically diagnosed inflammation of the palatal gland. Exfoliative cytology showed atypical cells and a biopsy was carried out. Histopathological examination revealed necrotizing sialometaplasia. The lesion healed spontaneously over time without special treatment.
