Ranula: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Ranula: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

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Answer. Ranula is a cystic swelling that occurs in the floor ofthe mouth and involves mainly sublingual salivary glands duct.

• It also arises from accessory salivary glands.
• The word ranula is derived from the resemblance of the swellings to the belly of a frog.

Read and learn More Cysts: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Ranula Etiology

• Ranula occurs due to obstruction to the duct, secreting mucosa.
• Artesia (Obstruction of the duct)
• Stricture of duct due to surgery
• Perforation of duct.

“What Tests Diagnose A Ranula“

Ranula Types

There are two types of ranulas, i.e.

1.Oral ranula

2.Plunging ranula or cervical ranula.

Oral ranula occurs secondary to mucus extravasation where mucus pools superior to the mylohyoid muscle in plunging ranula mucus extravasation is along the facial planes of the neck.

Ranula Clinical Features

Ranula Oral Ranula

• Seen in young children and adults
• Swelling is typically located in the flor of the mouth to one side of the midline.
• Its surface is smooth with diffuse borders.
• On palpation, it is soft, cystic, non-tender, and fluctuant swelling which gives brilliant transillumination.
• It is covered by thin mucosa containing a clear, serous fluid.
• Hence, it is bluish in color and resembles like a belly offrog.
• The lesion can cross midline when it is large, this makes the offending salivary gland difficult to locate.
• Large oral ranulas displace the tongue and interfere with the functions of the tongue.
• If the mass is located deep, it loses its bluish translucent color.

“Effective Ways To Manage Ranula Recovery“

Ranula Plunging Ranula

• The ranula often extends in the submandibular region through the deep part of the posterior margin of the mylohyoid muscle and is known as the plunging ranula.
• The plunging ranula is also an intra-oral ranula but with cervical extension.
• It remains asymptomatic but enlarges continuously. The overlying skin remains intact.
• The swelling is fluctuant, freely mobile, and non-tender.
• It is digitally palpable.

“Comprehensive Overview Of Ranula Symptoms”

Ranula Investigations

Ultrasound of the neck or MRI neck should be done.

Ranula Treatment

Oral Ranula

• Marsupialization can be done initially, in marsupialization major part of the cyst along with the mucus membrane of the floor of the mouth is excised.
  Cut edges of cyst wall are sutured to cut mucus membrane and later as the wall of ranula is thickened it should be excised completely.
• If ranula is small, it can be excised without marsupialization.
• Laser ablation and cryosurgery alone or after completion of marsupialization can be done for some patients of oral ranula.

“Best Practices For Ranula Surgical Management”

Plunging ranula

• Plunging ranula often requires approach from neck for complete excision.
  Excision of the submandibular and sublingual salivary gland is often needed in plunging ranula.
• For small plunging ranula excision is done orally along with excision of sublingual salivary gland.

“The Role Of Imaging Tests In Ranula Diagnosis“

Plunging ranula Complications

Rupture for the cyst decreases the size but it can appear at a later date.

When the swelling is big, the tongue is pushed upwards and may cause diffilty in speech and swallowing.