Diving ranula- A case report and review

Abstract

Pathologies developing on the floor of the mouth create difficulty for the patient and pose a challenge to oral physicians both clinically and surgically as this area manifests numerous vital structures. While diagnosing, an accurate differential diagnosis should be established to rule out other lesions that usually occur on the floor of the mouth such as ranula, lipoma, salivary gland tumours, dermoid cyst, and vascular lesions. Cystic lesions developing from the salivary glands are commonly known as "mucoceles", these lesions develop mostly in relation to the minor salivary glands and rarely, in relation to the major salivary glands. Mucoceles basically are of two types: Mucous retention cyst and Mucous extravasation cyst. A Ranula is a form of mucous extravasation cyst which commonly occurs on the floor of the mouth. Deep seated lesions when herniate through mylohyoid muscle give rise to a clinical variant; plunging or cervical Ranula. Various treatment modalities for ranula has been suggested that include excision of lesion with or without excision of ipsilateral sublingual salivary gland, marsupialization, aspiration of cystic fluid, sclerotherapy, incision and drainage and many more. Those various treatments have shown diverse results. Here we present a case report and review of Sublingual Ranula in a 47-year-old female patient, treated with the excision of the Ranula. A follow-up of 3 months revealed no recurrence.