Necrotising Sialometaplasia of Palate-Report of a Case with Review of Literature

Necrotising sialometaplasia (NS) is a relatively uncommon self-limiting, benign, inflammatory process, predominantly affecting salivary glands. The condition is of unknown aetiology and appears to be the result of a vasculitic phenomenon that occurs in minor salivary glands, usually in the palate. It is possible that ischaemia leads to infarction of salivary tissue. The consequence is relatively painless ulceration of rapid onset. The margins are often everted and may be indurated, resembling a carcinoma. Anaesthesia of the palatal mucosa has been reported as an early indicator of this form of ulceration. Histologically, the squamous metaplasia found in the salivary ducts, together with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia of the surrounding palatal epithelium, may give an incorrect impression of malignancy. This is a self-limiting condition that resolves in about 8 weeks time. Hereby, presenting a case of NS in a 43-year-old female patient.