Ranula and the sublingual salivary glands review of 32 cases

Abstract EN

Objective: Comparative study to evaluate various surgical methods for the treatment of ranula.

Method: Thirty two patients were retrospectively studied regarding treatment method namely, excision of the ranula, marsupialization, and excision of the ranula combined with sublingual gland removal, recurrence and complications.

All available specimens were histologically studied.

Result: There were 25 female and 7 male patients.

The mean age was 13.5 years.

Six patients had ranula excision, 4 had marsupialization and 22 had excision of the ranula combined with sublingual gland removal.

These treatment methods showed 18.7%, 80% and 0% recurrence rate respectively.

There was no complication with any method employed.

Conclusion: The most reliable method for eradicating ranula of the floor of the mouth is by surgical excision of the ranula with the sublingual gland removal.

Bahrain Med Bull 1998; 20(1):3-4 Ranulas are mucoceles occurring on the floor of the mouth1 .

They develop from the extravasations or retentions of mucous following trauma to the sublingual gland or one of the minor salivary glands2,3.

Plunging ranula may occur with cervical extension through the mylohyoid muscle3 .

There are controversies in the literature as to whether the ranula is an extravasation or retention phenomenon exhibiting epithelial lining4-6.

There are wide range of treatment philosophies including excision of the ranula only, marsupialization, excision of the ranula and sublingual gland and excision of the ranula via a cervical approach sometimes combined with the sublingual gland excision3-6.