Necrotizing sialometaplasia: A rare lesion that mimics oral cancer clinically and histopathologically

With screening for oral cancer being increasingly performed by physicians, ulceroproliferative lesions of the oral cavity that resemble carcinoma may present a diagnostic challenge. We present one such case wherein the lesion resolved spontaneously after incisional biopsy. A clinical diagnosis of necrotizing sialometaplasia was confirmed by histopathology. General medical practitioners and otolaryngologists should consider this rare lesion in the work up of a suspicious oral ulcer. Decisions must be based on biopsy and clinicians should resist the urge to make diagnoses unsupported by biopsy or at least toluidine blue staining.