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Ranula

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Pathology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

  • 76 Accesses

Synonyms

Mucocele; Mucous retention cyst

Definition

Ranula, meaning “frog-like” in Latin, is a clinical variant of a mucocele that presents as a large swelling in the floor of the mouth (Fig. 1). It is a mucous retention phenomenon of the large salivary glands, in contrast with mucoceles, which originate from minor salivary glands. They occur as a result of excretory duct disruption, usually of the sublingual gland and less frequently of the submandibular gland.

Fig. 1
figure 1

A ranula presents as a bluish swelling of the floor of the mouth (Courtesy of Prof. A. Vissink, Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, UMCG, Groningen, The Netherlands)

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References and Further Reading

  • Hayashida, A. M., Zerbinatti, D. C. Z., Balducci, I., Cabral, L. A. G., & Almeida, J. D. (2010). Mucus extravasation and retention phenomena: A 24-year study. BMC Oral Health, 10, 15–18.

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  • Kokong, D., Iduh, A., Chukwu, I., Mugu, J., Nuhu, S., & Augustine, S. (2017). Ranula: Current concept of pathophysiologic basis and surgical management options. World Journal of Surgery, 41, 1476–1481.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, M. R., Deal, A. M., & Shockley, W. W. (2009). Oral and plunging ranulas: What is the most effective treatment? Laryngoscope, 119, 1501–1509.

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  • Zhao, Y. F., Jia, Y. L., Chen, X. M., & Zhang, W. F. (2004). Clinical review of 580 ranulas. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics, 98, 281–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The National Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jacqueline E. van der Wal

Authors
  1. Jacqueline E. van der Wal
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Correspondence to Jacqueline E. van der Wal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands

    J.H.J.M. van Krieken

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van der Wal, J.E. (2017). Ranula. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_771-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_771-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

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