Ranula
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ICD-10 | K11.6 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 527.6 |
| DiseasesDB | 31432 |
| MedlinePlus | 001639 |
| eMedicine | derm/648 |
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, which is usually caused by local trauma.
The latin rana refers to frog, and a ranula is so named because its appearance is sometimes described as a frog's underbelly.
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[edit] Locations
The gland most likely to cause a ranula is the sublingual gland. Nonetheless, the submandibular gland and minor salivary glands may be involved.
[edit] Appearance
A ranula is a fluctuant swelling with a bluish translucent color.
Though normally above the mylohyoid muscle, if found deeper in the floor of the mouth, it can appear to have a normal color. A ranula below the mylohyoid muscle is referred to as a "plunging or cervical ranula", and produces swelling of the neck with or without swelling in the floor of the mouth.
The size of ranulas are usually larger than mucoceles with several centimeters in diameter. As a result, the tongue may be elevated. As with mucoceles, ranulas may have recurrent swelling with occasional rupturing of its contents.
[edit] Histology
Microscopically, ranulas appear similar to mucoceles. Thus, granulation tissue surrounding mucin is present.
[edit] Treatment
Treatment of ranulas involves excision of the top of the lesion in a procedure known as "marsupialization". Recurrence may occur if the sublingual gland or other gland causing the ranula is not removed.
[edit] References
- Kahn, Michael A. Basic Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Volume 1. 2001.
