The juxtaoral organ of Chievitz.

Juxtaroral organs were found in 14 of 25 consecutive autopsies in adults who did not have carcinoma or other lesions of the oral mucosa. Nearly all of the epithelium was squamous-like, but an occasional lumen was present, lined with cuboidal cells. Small nerves were intimately associated with the epithelial component. Awareness of this normal structure may be crucial in preventing unnecessarily extensive surgery should it be misinterpreted as perineural invasion by carcinoma.