the minor salivary glands are important components of the oral cavity , present in most parts of the mouth , and their secretions directly bathe the tissues .
individual glands are usually in the submucosa or between muscle fibers and consist of groups of secretory end pieces made up of mucous acinar cells and serous or seromucous demilune cells .
we report a case of ulceration in the palatal salivary gland presented with intermittent heavy bleeding from the lesion .
a 50-year - old male patient reported with the complaint of bleeding from the swelling in the palate for 4 months .
the patient had consulted a doctor who had diagnosed it to be bleeding from a swelling in the palate .
on intraoral examination , a small , well - defined , solitary papule measuring about 4 mm in diameter was present in the midpalatal region , on the left side of midpalatal raphe , along a line running from the right second premolar to the left second premolar .
well defined , solitary papule with central ulceration in the palate on palpation , it was nontender and soft .
the lesion showed some compressibility . upon compressing , serous discharge exudate from the central ulcerated area . on asking the patient to spit following gargling with water , heavy bleeding
the case was provisionally diagnosed as ulcerative sialadenitis of minor salivary gland with considering minor salivary gland adenoma , adenomatoid hyperplasia , and nonhealing tuberculous ulcer as a differential diagnosis .
histopathological examination showed hyperkeratotic stratified squamous epithelium and mucous acini collection in the underlying connective tissue .
a minimal amount of chronic inflammatory cells and endothelial lined blood vessels with red blood cells were also seen .
histopathological features were suggestive of a chronic nonspecific ulcer . based on the clinical features , histopathology report and other investigations , the final diagnosis was given as ulcerative sialadenitis of the palatal salivary gland .
hyperkeratotic stratified squamous epithelium and mucous acini collection in the underlying connective tissue . minimal amount of chronic inflammatory cells and endothelial lined blood vessels with red blood cells were also seen ( h and e , 10 )
despite their name , minor salivary glands have an important role in the physiology and pathology of the oral cavity .
they secrete more or less continuously , providing a steady flow of fluid , and organic substances to protect the oral tissues . because individual glands open directly onto the mucosal surface , their secretions create and regulate the local environment .
the effect of smoking on the oral cavity has been well studied for quite a number of years .
the glandular area of the hard palate mucosa shows papular elevations ( up to 23 mm in height ) with central umbilications with or without pigmentation of the surrounding mucosa .
the central umbilication could be like a red spot in the center of a greyish or pale elevated papule . in mild stomatitis nicotina lesions
red dots over blanched elevated areas can be seen , and in severe cases , papular lesions up to 05 cm . in diameter or more with umbilications up to 23 mm . in diameter .
ulcerative sialadenitis of the minor salivary gland has not been mentioned in the literature so far .
inflammation of the minor salivary gland openings due to smoking and some kind of traumatic irritation would have resulted in ulceration .
the ulcerated friable mucosa would have developed the tendency to bleed on applying negative pressure .
a further enlightenment on this condition could not be done as this is the first case to be reported on ulcerative sialadenitis of the minor salivary gland
 minor salivary glands have an important role in the physiology and pathology of the oral cavity though they have been neglected at times . 
 smoking has a direct effect on the palatal minor salivary glands , and their most common presentation is stomatitis nicotina . 
 we report a case of ulceration in the palatal salivary gland presented with intermittent heavy bleeding from the lesion . 
INTRODUCTION
CASE REPORT
DISCUSSION
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