[Necrotizing sialometaplasia of the nasal cavity]

In the present paper we report two cases of "necrotizing sialometaplasia" in uncommon locations. The relevant literature is reviewed. Necrotizing sialometaplasia is self-limiting and is characterized by necrosis and squamous pseudohypertrophy. Typically occurring in the minor salivary glands of the oral mucosa, our cases appear to be the sixth and seventh cases of involvement of the nasal cavity reported in the literature. Owing to the similarity of histological findings, the term "sialometaplasia" is also used for this disorder. This rare disease is a benign process but may be misdiagnosed as mucoepidermoid or squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, the possibility of this disease in the nose should again be presented. Both of our cases show that with a histological examination considering defined morphological findings, the diagnosis of necrotizing sialometaplasia can be verified and a diagnosis of a carcinoma can be excluded. Especially with regard to radical and possibly unnecessary invasive therapeutic procedures we emphasize the importance of considering "necrotizing sialometaplasia" as part of the differential diagnosis of nasal lesions.