The authors report a case of necrotic metaplasia of the salivary glands and review the principal clinical, histological, and evolutional characteristics of this rare affection of unknown etiology. The lesion occurs in adults, is located exclusively in the palate and appears as a small usually greatly ulcerated swelling which is sometimes preceded by pain. Histological examination, which requires a relatively deep and fairly large sample, demonstrates a group of modifications essential for diagnosis: ulceration on a inflammatory base with hyperplasic epithelial borders, plus deeper accessory salivary lobules with necrotic plaques and a great deal of malpighian metaplasia, and conservation of normal gland structure. This affection, which is sometimes wrongly diagnosted as a tumor, heals spontaneously within several weeks, which contra-indicates any strong therapeutic measures.