Is ranula and mucocele same?
Ranulas are mucoceles that are of major salivary gland origin and occur on the floor of the mouth.
What is a ranula filled with?
It is filled with saliva (spit) that has leaked out of a damaged salivary gland. Instead of the saliva draining from the glands directly into the mouth, one of these glands is damaged, so the saliva leaks into the tissues next to the gland and forms a bubble. Sometimes a ranula forms without a known cause.
What does a ranula look like?
A ranula usually presents as a translucent, blue, dome-shaped, fluctuant swelling in the tissues of the floor of the mouth. If the lesion is deeper, then there is a greater thickness of tissue separating from the oral cavity and the blue translucent appearance may not be a feature.
What does a mucocele look like?
An oral mucocele will look like a soft, dome-shaped lesion in your mouth. They're usually clear or have a bluish tone, and they vary in size from 1 millimeter to 2 centimeters wide. Oral mucoceles most commonly affect the inner surface of your lower lip.
What happens if you pop a ranula?
Although some mucoceles resolve themselves, most remain large, continue to grow, and cause continuous problems. Unfortunately, simply popping or removing the fluid from the gland does not resolve the problem because the duct will continue to stay blocked.
What happens if a ranula is left untreated?
Patients with an untreated ranula will continue to experience the pain and swelling of the ranula, and if infected, can result in serious neck abscesses requiring hospitalization and abscess drainage procedures.
Do ranulas need to be removed?
Rarely, a ranula can spontaneously go away without any treatment but usually a procedure will be needed to treat the problem. Simple drainage of the fluid collection rarely permanently fixes the problem as the diseased gland continues to leak saliva.
Can a ranula be cancerous?
A ranula is a clear or bluish cyst that can form under your tongue. It can happen spontaneously, or as a result of trauma or injury to your mouth. Ranulas aren't cancerous or dangerous.
How did I get a ranula?
If there's an injury to the duct carrying saliva to the mouth from the salivary gland, a blockage could occur. Saliva accumulates in the salivary gland and forms a cyst since it cannot drain properly. This creates a ranula. Similarly, if you get hit in the face or bite your cheek too hard, a ranula could form.
Are oral mucocele hard or soft?
A mucocele is usually a single bump with a slightly bluish or normal skin color, varying in size from 1/2 to 1 inch, and it is soft and painless. A mucocele may appear suddenly, while a mucus-retention cyst may slowly enlarge.
How do you make a mucocele go away?
In most cases, oral mucocele treatment is unnecessary since the cyst ruptures on its own — usually after three to six weeks. If the mucocele is persistent or large in size, your dental professional might use cryotherapy, laser treatment, or surgery to remove the cyst. Do not try to remove or rupture the cyst at home.
Does salt water help mucocele?
A nonsurgical option that may be effective for a small or newly identified mucocele is to rinse the mouth thoroughly with salt water (one tablespoon of salt per cup) four to six times a day for a few days. This may draw out the fluid trapped underneath the skin without further damaging the surrounding tissue.
What type of cyst is ranula?
A ranula is a spit-filled cyst that forms under your tongue. It can result from a blocked salivary gland. Instead of saliva draining from the gland into your mouth, it leaks into nearby tissues, forming a cyst or “bubble.” Ranulas aren't serious, and they typically aren't painful.
Do ranulas need to be removed?
Rarely, a ranula can spontaneously go away without any treatment but usually a procedure will be needed to treat the problem. Simple drainage of the fluid collection rarely permanently fixes the problem as the diseased gland continues to leak saliva.
Can a ranula get infected?
Recurrence is a possibility after draining a cyst. There are also complications associated with surgery. These include temporary tongue numbness after surgery, post-surgery hematoma, and infection. Signs of infection include fever, chills, and pain.
Can a ranula be cancerous?
There are reports of plunging ranulas that developed after the excision of a sialolith or transposition of the duct of the submandibular gland. The diagnosis of a plunging ranula is of clinical significance for there are many benign as well as malignant lesions that have the same appearance during physical examination.