NECROTIZING SIALOMETAPLASIA OF THE NASAL CAVITY

In the present paper we report two cases of ''necrotizing sialometapla sia'' in uncommon locations. The relevant literature is reviewed. Necr otizing sialometaplasia is self-limiting and is characterized by necro sis and squamous pseudohypertrophy. Typically occurring in the minor s alivary glands of the oral mucosa, our cases appear to be the sixth an d seventh cases of involvement of the nasal cavity reported in the lit erature. 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 squamou s cell carcinoma. Therefore, the possibility of this disease in the no se should again be presented. Both of our cases show that with a histo logical examination considering defined morphological findings, the di agnosis 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.