The patient is a well-nourished Caucasian female who appears her stated age and is in no acute distress.  Extraoral examination is within normal limits with no facial asymmetry or cervical lymphadenopathy evident.  Intraoral examination reveals a firm, sessile nodule involving the left posterior hard palate and extending to the hard and soft palatal junction (Figure 1).  The lesion measures approximately 2 cm in maximum diameter, and the overlying mucosa appears normal to slightly erythematous.  No ulceration is present, and the patient denies any pain or discomfort upon palpation.

Figure 1.  A nodular mass involving the posterior hard palate.