A Single Firm Nodule of the Upper Lip: A Case Report

Canalicular Adenoma (CA) is a benign accessory salivary gland neoplasm. It represents less than 1% of salivary gland tumors. It occurs generally on the upper lips in female patients over 50 years of age. We report a case of canalicular adenoma that arose from buccal minor salivary glands of the upper lip without any symptomatology. Clinically, CA appears as an often single firm mass of 1cm, sparing the main salivary glands which is not pathognomonic of canalicular adenoma. Treatment of choice is enucleation to rule out many differential diagnoses that may present clinically as an asymptomatic nodule. Recurrences are rare. Histological features are characteristic and usually allow a definitive diagnosis to be made with confidence. However, many differential diagnoses remain to be ruled out.