Are ranulas rare?
The prevalence of ranula is 0.2% per 1000 patients (6). Ranulas account for 6% of all salivary gland cysts (6). Ranulas are more common in children and young adults. However, the plunging type occurs most commonly in the later third decade (6) but a presentation at an age of 78 as in the current case is very rare.
Do ranulas go away on their 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.
Are ranulas painful?
What are symptoms of a ranula? A clear or bluish translucent growth on the floor of the mouth is the main symptom of a ranula. They don’t typically cause pain, so you may not notice it until the cyst increases in size. If you have a simple ranula, swelling is confined to the sublingual gland.
Is ranula life threatening?
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.
Can a dentist remove a ranula?
Treatment for a simple ranula involves excision of the lesion. Another method is simple marsupialization or incision of the cyst creating a pouch and suturing of the ranula followed by packing of the entire cyst cavity with gauze for 7 days to 10 days.
Can adults get ranulas?
Others grow large and can create problems. When a ranula growing at a fast pace ruptures, it’s called a plunging ranula. Although everyone can have ranulas in their mouth, the Maori people of New Zealand are a population at high for this condition. You’re likely to get ranulas in your mouth during your 20s or 30s.
What kind of doctor removes a ranula?
Re-evaluation by the ENT specialist indicated the need for excision of the ranula and sublingual gland. Both were surgically removed.
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.
Can 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.
Is it OK to pop a ranula?
The sac is, in general, bluish and clear. 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.