What is ranula?

A ranula is a fluid collection, or cyst, that forms in the mouth under the tongue. It is filled with saliva (spit) that has leaked out of a damaged salivary gland.

What causes 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.

Is ranula serious?

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.

Is a ranula 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.

What does a ranula look like?

A ranula usually presents as a translucent, blue, dome-shaped, fluctuant swelling in the tissues of the floor of the mouth. If the lesion is deeper, then there is a greater thickness of tissue separating from the oral cavity and the blue translucent appearance may not be a feature.

Explaining a Ranula or Mucocele | With Dr O'Donovan

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.

Will a ranula go away?

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.

How do I get rid of ranula?

Should you pop a ranula?

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.

How long does ranula surgery take?

In an uncomplicated procedure it will take approximately 30 minutes to remove the sublingual gland.

Can a ranula get infected?

A Rare Case of Plunging Infected Ranula: MRI Diagnosis. JSM Clin Case Rep 4(1): 1094. Ranula is a rare benign acquired cystic lesion that occurs at the floor of the mouth. It is difficult to diagnose when it is plunging.

Who do I see for a ranula?

A small ranula that causes no symptoms may not require a visit to your doctor. But you should see a doctor for an enlarged ranula since there's the risk of the lesion rupturing. You'll know the ranula is enlarged if it impairs eating, swallowing, speech, or breathing.

Is ranula a true cyst?

Ranulas can be true cysts occurring due to ductal obstruction of the sublingual gland or a minor salivary gland or a pseudocyst as a result of ductal injury leading to extravasation and accumulation of saliva in the surrounding tissues. Clinically ranulas present as intraoral or plunging ranulas.

How do I get rid of a bump under my tongue?

gargling with warm salt water and baking soda mouth rinses on a regular basis. applying topical remedies to reduce pain. Some products are available to purchase over the counter or online, such as canker sore medication or oral numbing gels. avoiding alcohol-based mouthwashes until the bumps disappear.

How rare is a ranula?

The prevalence of ranula is 0.2% per 1000 patients Ranulas account for 6% of all salivary gland cysts. Ranulas are more common in children and young adults. However the plunging type occurs most commonly in the later third decade.

What does ranula feel like?

Individuals with an oral ranula may complain of swelling of the floor of the mouth that is usually painless. The mass may interfere with speech, mastication, respiration, and swallowing because of the upward and medial displacement of the tongue.

What causes cyst under tongue?

Common sites and causes of cysts include: Inner surface of the upper or lower lip, inside the cheeks, bottom surface of the tongue. These are called mucoceles. They are often caused by lip biting, lip sucking, or other trauma.

Is a ranula a soft tissue cyst?

Histopathologically the plunging (cervical) ranula appears identical to the mucus extravasation and reveals a connective tissue with inflammatory cells. It is a fibrous connective soft tissue cyst and above it there is squamous or circular epithelium [7,14].

Why do I have a lump inside my tongue?

Tongue bumps are common, and there are many possible causes, including injuries, allergies, and infections. Although tongue bumps can feel strange and may cause concern, they are usually harmless. Some people with bumps on their tongue may worry about cancer, but oral cancers are relatively rare.

Can I pop a mucous cyst?

It is important not to pick at or pop the cyst. This can result in an open wound, which may become infected or cause permanent scarring. Over time, the cyst will burst itself as a part of the healing process. Occasionally cleaning the cyst with salt water can help to prevent infection.

Can homeopathy cure ranula?

cases with non-surgical management are available on literature search, as surgery is considered to be the mainstay for this clinical condition. the mouth as a simple ranula. After individualising the case, homoeopathic medicine Ambra grisea 30 was prescribed, and within 2–3 months, ranula obliterated.

Can Ranulas come back?

Oral ranula is a retention cyst that arises from the salivary gland with recurrence rate of up to 25% after complete excision of ranula and up to 2% in case of complete excision of ranula and sublingual gland. Major salivary gland aplasia is a rare finding that is usually associated with other developmental anomalies.

Can a dentist help with a ranula?

Early recognition of the symptoms of all swellings and lesions in the oral cavity will help in the ranula management process and will hopefully encourage patients to bring these to the attention of a dental professional in case the swelling is indicative of a more serious prognosis such as oral cancer.

How do you unblock a blocked salivary gland?