The purpose of this report is to present the clinical and histological features of a canalicular adenoma (CA) occurring in the upper lip and vestibular fornix of a 62-year-old woman.

CA is an uncommon benign salivary gland tumor occurring almost exclusively in the intraoral glands. This tumor has often been referred to as a variant of the basal cell adenoma. However, the World Health Organization's latest histological classification of salivary gland tumors recognizes it as a separate entity under the broader heading of monomorphic adenoma, which is not related to any of the subtypes of basal cell adenomas.

A 62-year-old woman with a chief complaint of an extraoral swelling in the upper lip. The evolution of the lesion was not known by the patient who recognized it when she touched her upper lip and found “an acne” on it. The patient wore complete dentures since age 17 and was not aware of any pain or tenderness in the area. Extra and intraoral examination revealed a mobile nodular lesion located in the right aspect of the upper lip near the nose and in the vestibular fornix between the lateral incisor and canine. Microscopic examination confirmed the final diagnosis of CA. The patient is currently free of disease 54 months after surgical excision of the tumor.

Local excision of symptomatic nodules seems to be sufficient to manage patients with multifocal CA.¹⁰ But, unlike other benign tumors, CA may need a longer follow-up due to its tendency towards multifocal occurrence and late recurrence.^3,7

Azevedo LR, Dos Santos JN, De Lima AAS, Machado MÂN, Grégio AMT. Canalicular Adenoma Presenting as an Asymptomatic Swelling of the Upper Lip: A Case Report. J Contemp Dent Pract 2008 January; (9)1:091-097.