Marsupialization done by removing parts of the cyst wall and connecting it to the oral mucosa. It is a conservative procedure and recommended for children. It has advantages such as maintaining outline of oral tissue and less risk of damaging anatomic structure.

Do ranulas 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.

What kind of doctor treats ranula?

Some cysts may disappear on their own. Treatment is necessary, however, for enlarged simple ranulas, especially when swelling interferes with swallowing or speaking, and for most plunging ranulas. Children who require treatment for a ranula will see a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT).

What causes a ranula cyst?

What is ranula? Ranulas are clear or bluish cysts caused by a blocked salivary gland in the mouth. These slow-growing benign growths are found on the floor of the mouth and can vary in size.

What is the treatment of ranula?

The more traditional method of surgery for an oral ranula is complete excision of the ranula and associated major salivary gland. Laser ablation and cryosurgery, either alone or after marsupialization, have been used for some patients with oral ranula.

How do you get rid of ranula cysts?

Surgical excision of ranula along with sublingual gland via intraoral approach is the optimum treatment for simple ranula. Surgical extension of the cyst along with the sublingual gland via intraoral approach is the best approach for the management of plunging ranula.

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.

How is ranula treated?

What are the treatment options for a ranula?

Marsupialization. The simple ranula can be treated several different ways.

  • Resection of ranula and sublingual gland. The author’s preference for treatment of a ranula is to excise the entire pseudocyst with the sublingual gland.
  • Combined transcervical and transoral resection of plunging ranula.
  • Minimally invasive treatment of plunging ranula.

    • What are the treatment options for oral Ranulas?

    Incision or needle aspiration: Depending on its size,your doctor can make an incision and drain the cyst to decrease swelling or use a needle to withdraw the fluid.

  • Marsupialization: The surgeon makes a slit in the cyst and sutures the edges to maintain an opening.
  • Surgery: This involves removal of the cyst and the damaged sublingual gland.

    • How to treat a ranula?

    Use a tiered approach to manage the treatment of oral ranulas.

  • Perform more traditional surgery to treat an oral ranula.
  • Drain a cervical ranula with no other treatment.
  • Eliminate a cervical ranula by completely excising the oral portion of the ranula and the responsible sublingual salivary gland.

    • Is a 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.