What is a plunging ranula?

Plunging ranulas are rare cystic masses in the neck that are mucous retention pseudocysts from an obstructed sublingual gland. They “plunge” by extending inferiorly beyond the free edge of the mylohyoid muscle, or through a dehiscence of the muscle itself, to enter the submandibular space.

What is the treatment of ranula?

The more traditional method of surgery for an oral ranula is complete excision of the ranula and associated major salivary gland. Laser ablation and cryosurgery, either alone or after marsupialization, have been used for some patients with oral ranula.

What is simple ranula?

If you have a simple ranula, swelling is confined to the sublingual gland. This is the smallest of the three paired salivary glands around the throat and mouth. Another type of ranula is a diving or plunging ranula, which occurs when a simple ranula ruptures.

What is a diving ranula?

Ranulas are retention cysts resulting from trauma or inflammation of sublingual gland or minor salivary gland in sublingual space (SLS). When large, simple ranula ruptures along posterior margin of mylohyoid muscle into submandibular space (SMS) creating a pseudocyst lacking epithelial lining termed diving ranula.

Can a plunging ranula go away on its own?

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.

What does plunging ranula feel like?

Plunging ranulas can manifest as neck swelling in conjunction with, or independent of, a floor-of-mouth cyst. Occasionally, squeezing the mass causes swelling in the floor-of-mouth cyst. Most reported plunging ranulas are 4-10 cm in size and are usually found in the submandibular space.

What kind of doctor treats ranula?

Diagnosis of a ranula A pediatric otolaryngologist, a physician who specializes in the ears, nose and throat (ENT), will examine the child. Depending on the location and type of problem, the doctor may press on (palpitate) the child’s neck or look inside their mouth, pushing on the floor of the oral cavity.

Can a plunging 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.

Why do salivary glands get blocked?

One of the more common causes of a blocked salivary duct is a salivary gland stone. Made from the salts that naturally occur in saliva, these stones are more likely to develop in people who are dehydrated, suffer from gout or are taking medications that cause dry mouth, according to Clarence Sasaki, MD.

Can you live with a ranula?

Ranulas do require treatment, but they are not serious in that they are not life threatening and do not typically cause pain. A ranula, if large enough, can lift the tongue and impair chewing, eating, and swallowing.

Where is the plunging ranula located in the body?

The mass is well-circumscribed, of cystic nature with no peripheral enhancement, located in the left sublingual space between the mylohyoid muscle laterally, geniohyoi d / genioglossus complex medially, and the ipsilateral submandibular gland posterolaterally with extension to the adjacent submandibular space.

How are radiographic features used to diagnose Ranulas?

Radiographic features. The key to diagnosing a ranula, especially in cases where they are large and have dissected some distance away from their origin, is the identification of a connection to the sublingual space. This may be no more than a thin tail of fluid or a significant local fluid collection 1.

What are the submandibular glands of the plunging ranula?

A well-defined left submandibular cystic mass with thin wall and homogeneous echogenic content, posteromedial to the ipsilateral submandibular gland which appears of normal size and echotexture but displaced anterolaterally. The right submandibular gland is of normal size and echotexture. Loading images…

What causes a ranula to form in the mouth?

Ranulas arise either spontaneously or as a result of trauma to the floor of mouth, including surgery. They result from obstruction of a sublingual gland or adjacent minor salivary gland with resultant formation of a mucous retention cyst 1,5. A ranula can be classified based on its extent: simple ranula: confined to the sublingual space