A ranula is a type of mucocele found on the floor of the mouth.
Ranulas present as a swelling of connective tissue consisting of collected mucin from a ruptured salivary gland duct. These lesions occur as the result of trauma or obstruction to the salivary gland excretory duct and spillage of mucin into the surrounding soft tissues.
Symptoms
Mucoceles often show up on the inside of your lower lips, your gums, the roof of your mouth, or under your tongue. Those on the floor of the mouth are called ranulas. These are rare, but because they are larger, they can cause more problems with speech, chewing, and swallowing.
Mucoceles may have these characteristics:
Symptoms
Mucoceles often show up on the inside of your lower lips, your gums, the roof of your mouth, or under your tongue. Those on the floor of the mouth are called ranulas. These are rare, but because they are larger, they can cause more problems with speech, chewing, and swallowing.
Mucoceles may have these characteristics:
- Moveable and painless
- Soft, round, dome-shaped
- Pearly or semi-clear surface or bluish in color
- 2 to 10 millimeters in diameter
Treatment
Normally the ranula or mucoceles resolves spontaneously, but in some cases they may persist and become enlarged and therfore are in need of surgical treatment. The ENT surgeon surgically removes the ranula with the use of a micromarsupialization technique and in some cases removal of the sublingual salivary gland as well may be necessary in order to prevent recurrence.
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