Sialadenoma papilliferum (SP) is a rare benign neoplasm that normally arises from the minor salivary glands, particularly in the palate. SP is normally encountered in older men with an exophytic papillary surface growth. In the present study, an SP of the hard palate of a 69-year-old woman was examined immunohistochemically. Myoepithelial cell markers, such as S-100, smooth muscle actin and vimentin, were observed in the basal or luminal layer of tumor cells, indicating that myoepithelial cells participate in the pathogenesis of SP. In addition, cytokeratin 7 was also strongly detected in the tumor cells, suggesting that excretory ductal epithelial cells have a role in its histogenesis. A review of the literature of immunohistochemical studies on SP showed that the expression and co-expression of cytokeratins and myoepithelial cell markers have been reported in tumor cells. These results suggested that excretory duct cells and myoepithelial cells participate in the pathogenesis of SP.