Recurrent Plunging Ranula Due to a Sublingual Ectopic Gland: A Rare Clinical Entity

Ranula is a benign cystic lesion caused by the escape and collection of salivary mucus. Classically, it is divided into simple ranulas, a cystic mass in the floor of the mouth, and diving/plunging/cervical ranulas, a submandibular mass without apparent intraoral involvement. Although plunging ranula...

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Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 1; p. e52590
Main Authors Rodrigues Barros, Cristina, Caeiro Dos Santos Portugal Guerreiro, Frederico, Seixas-Martins, Joaquim, Machado, Maria do Céu
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 19.01.2024
Cureus
Subjects
Airway management
Asymptomatic
Cysts
Dentistry
Exocrine glands
Iatrogenesis
Medical imaging
Mouth
Oral Medicine
Pathology
Pathophysiology
Plastic Surgery
Surgery
Surgical outcomes
Thyroid gland
salivary gland
ectopic gland
mouth floor
tail sign
plunging ranula
transoral surgical approach
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Summary:Ranula is a benign cystic lesion caused by the escape and collection of salivary mucus. Classically, it is divided into simple ranulas, a cystic mass in the floor of the mouth, and diving/plunging/cervical ranulas, a submandibular mass without apparent intraoral involvement. Although plunging ranula is a well-documented cause of neck swelling, its association with the presence of ectopic sublingual glands is extremely rare, with less than five cases reported. Other cervical cystic lesions may have the same clinical aspect; therefore, advanced diagnostic techniques like a CT scan or MRI play a critical role in early diagnosis. Different approaches have been used to treat ranulas, including non-invasive, minimally invasive, and surgical techniques. The purpose of this paper is to highlight a case report of a giant plunging ranula due to an anatomical aberration of the right sublingual gland, along with a significant literature review.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.52590