title: Case report of necrotizing sialometaplasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a rare inflammatory necrotizing reactive process that can involve minor and major salivary glands. Gland tissue ischaemia has been proposed as the aetiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 21-year-old woman was referred with a 1-week history of bilateral painful swelling of the palate, with the development of two deep ulcers after the first 3 days. Ulcer edges were elevated but not indurated, and the bases had a necrotic appearance. An incisional biopsy of the margin of one ulcer confirmed the diagnosis of necrotizing sialometaplasia. The ulcers spontaneously healed within 8 weeks without treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical and histological similarity between this entity and a malignant lesion implies a risk of unnecessary or inadequate treatment. This case illustrates the need for an incisional biopsy to be analyzed by an experienced pathologist to establish a correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Medicine and Orofacial Surgery Department, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. antbasco@odon.ucm.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bascones-Martínez
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Corcuera
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerero-Lapiedra
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bascones-Ilundáin
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esparza-Gómez
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012797:Sialometaplasia, Necrotizing / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult