Oral Cytology in Patients with Necrotizing Sialometaplasia

Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a benign and inflammatory lesion, which heals spontaneously. However sometimes this lesion is excised, by reason of confusing clinically and histologically with malignant disease. In this report, we reexamined the cytological findings in three cases of Necrotizing sialometaplasia. In the result, we obtained the common findings of three cases. Finding 1. necrotic tissue with inflammatory cell infiltration. Finding 2. degeneration of the acinar cells and extravasation of mucus. Finding 3. squamous cells with weak dysplasia in a part. In general, Necrotizing sialometaplasia is diagnosed by clinical findings and course. In that situation, we advocated that oral cytology is useful method for diagnosis.