NECROTIZING SIALOMETAPLASIA

Nonhealing palatal ulcerations in two white male patients, one 50 and another 58 years of age, were clinically suspected of being malignant, even after the initial biopsies were negative. Second biopsies in each case confirmed the original opinions, but the lesions were diagnosed specifically as "necrotizing sialometaplasia". This is an interesting condition of uncertain etiology that can mimic cancer, both clinically and microscopically. The condition heals spontaneously. It should be considered in a differential diagnosis of suspicious lesions of the palate.