The plunging ranula: diagnostic difficulties and a less invasive approach to treatment.

Plunging ranulas arise when a simple ranula extends beyond the floor of the mouth into the neck. Diagnosis is difficult even with modern imaging techniques as they mimic other neck lesions, and traditional treatment involves enucleation of the cyst from the neck. Despite this invasive surgery they tend to recur.

[Transoral approach for sublingual-plunging ranula].

The case of a 7-year-old boy suffering from progressive submental/submandibular swelling is reported. Following clinical and imaging diagnostics (MRI), the suspected diagnosis of a sublingual-plunging ranula was made. Surgery was performed with transoral excision of the sublingual gland in combination with excision of the ranula.

Giant plunging ranula: a case report.

A ranula is a bluish, transparent, and thin-walled swelling in the floor of the mouth. They originate from the extravasation and subsequent accumulation of saliva from the sublingual gland. Ranulas are usually limited to the sublingual space but they sometimes extend to the submandibular space and parapharyngeal space, which is defined as a plunging ranula.

Recurrent plunging ranula of the neck.

The reported case describes a mismanaged extensive recurrent plunging ranula that occupied a large portion of the neck. The ranula is usually clinically diagnosed. However, absence of visible intra-oral signs may mislead the diagnosis and leads to improper surgical management.

Postmortem investigation of mylohyoid hiatus and hernia: aetiological factors of plunging ranula.

The mylohyoid hiatus and hernia were discovered in the nineteenth century and were considered to explain the origin of the plunging ranula from the sublingual gland. This formed the rationale for sublingual sialadenectomy for the treatment of plunging ranula. However, a more recent, extensive histological investigation reported that hernias contained submandibular gland, which supported an origin of the plunging ranula from the submandibular gland and submandibular sialadenectomy for the treatment of plunging ranula.

Management of ranula: 9 years' clinical experience in pediatric and adult patients.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results in the authors' department in the management of patients with oral and plunging ranulas. A specific diagnostic and therapeutic approach is suggested based on these data and data from the literature.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 65 patients with a final diagnosis of ranula was carried out.

Submandibular gland mucocele associated with a mixed ranula.

Mucoceles of the submandibular gland are extremely rare pathologic occurrences that present an investigative and management dilemma owing to their clinical indistinguishability from plunging ranulas. Of the few that have been documented, these mucous extravasation cysts involved the submandibular gland alone. We describe perhaps the first case of an extensive submandibular gland mucocele occurring in conjunction with a mixed ranula from the ipsilateral sublingual gland, and discuss the various considerations in the management of such lesions.

Acute presentation of a plunging ranula causing respiratory distress: case report.

Objective: A plunging ranula is an uncommon cause of neck swelling which typically presents in a gradually progressive fashion. This report describes a rare case of acute presentation of a plunging ranula. The condition progressed rapidly to respiratory distress, requiring urgent surgery.

Diagnostic difficulties of plunging ranula: case series.

Objectives: To evaluate common pitfalls in diagnosing complicated plunging ranula, either due to misidentification of plunging ranula or alternative pathology (i.e. false negatives or false positives, respectively).

Submandibular gland mucocele presenting as a lateral neck swelling.

Mucus extravasation cysts or mucoceles are an extremely rare occurrence in the major salivary glands. We report upon an unusual case of a submandibular gland mucocele presenting as a neck lump. It should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of swellings in the lateral neck.

Plunging ranula of the submandibular area.

The term "ranula" is used to describe a diffuse swelling in the floor of the mouth caused by either a mucous extravasation or, less commonly, a mucous retention cyst derived from the major sublingual or submandibular salivary glands. The most common presentation of ranula is a painless, slow-growing, soft, and movable mass located in the floor of the mouth. Ranula may be simple or plunging.

Sublingual-plunging ranula as a complication of supraomohyoid neck dissection.

Ranulas are rare cystic lesions resulting from damage or rupture of one or more of the ducts of the sublingual gland, that lead to mucus extravasation or dilatation of the gland's duct. Extravasation cysts are more common than retention cysts. We present a case of a 45-year-old male with a squamous cell carcinoma of the ventral surface of the tongue that was treated with excision of the oral lesion and bilateral supraomohyoid neck dissection without supplementary radiotherapy.

Clinical and histopathological review of 229 cases of ranula.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the relationship between the thrombosis and secretory duct dilation, lesion size, clinical types, nature (primary or recurrent) and duration of illness in the development of ranula. A total of 229 cases of sublingual gland cysts were treated with surgical resection from Jan. 1990 to Feb.

Plunging ranula: a case report.

Plunging ranulas, also known as deep, diving, cervical or deep plunging ranula, usually appear in conjunction with oral ranula. Rarely, these ranulas may arise independent of oral swelling. A rare case of plunging ranula without oral swelling is discussed along with review of literature.

Plunging ranula intruding into the parapharyngeal space treated with OK-432.

We report a very rare case of a plunging ranula extending into the parapharyngeal space, which was treated successfully with OK-432. A 27-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of right submandibular swelling. Based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, we established a diagnosis of plunging ranula intruding into the parapharyngeal space.

Surgery for plunging ranula: the lesson not yet learned?

Our objective is to review our experience with treatment of plunging ranula and examine the efficacy of transoral excision of sublingual gland as the principal treatment. This study comprises a case series with chart review. A secondary otolaryngology service was used as the setting.

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. Imaging demonstrates a simple cystic lesion in the characteristic location and can be used to delineate relevant surgical anatomy.

Recurrent plunging ranula.

We report two cases of plunging ranula, which had recurred after marsupialization. Both were successfully treated by removal of the ipsilateral sublingual gland. A brief review of the literature regarding the treatment options is presented.

Treatments of various otolaryngological cystic diseases by OK-4321: its indications and limitations.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications for, and outcomes and limitations of, OK-432 therapy in various otolaryngological cystic diseases.

Study Design: A retrospective clinical study at Yamagata University School of Medicine and the Fukase Clinic in Japan.

Methods: Between April 1996 and November 2009 we tried OK-432 therapy in 148 patients with otolaryngological cystic diseases.

Intracystic injection of pingyangmycin (PYM) might be a more favorable option for treatment of oral and plunging ranulas.

Ranulas are mucoceles that develop as a result of mucous extravasation from the sublingual gland and typically present in the floor of mouth. The treatment of ranulas are various, mainly including surgical and nonsurgical methods. The preferred treatment of oral and plunging ranulas is still uncertain.

Lymphatic malformation in adult patient: a rare case.

Lymphatic malformation is an uncommon anomaly that commonly occurs in the posterior triangles of infants. The case presented here was an adult male patient with swelling in submental region. This site often leads to misdiagnosis of other common pathology including plunging ranula or lipoma.

Plunging ranula: congenital or acquired?

Objective: To review our clinical experience with plunging ranula and examine the evidence in support of our impression that plunging ranula has a genetic basis.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Setting: Secondary otolaryngology service.

Modern management and pathophysiology of ranula: literature review.

Background: There is a lack of consensus about the appropriate treatment of ranula. The objective of the present investigation was to produce a scientific basis for treatment.

Methods: A review of the relevant literature is interpreted in the light of improved knowledge about the local anatomy and the pathophysiology of the salivary glands.

A retrospective study of ranula in two centres in Malaysia.

Introduction: Ranula is a mucous extravasation cyst which occurs as a result of trauma or obstruction of the sublingual or minor salivary gland or the duct itself.

Patients And Results: 14 patients were seen at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Tunku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Malaysia between 2000 to 2006. There were six cases of intra-oral ranula and eight plunging ranula.