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Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2019 Jan 9;127(1):77-84. Epub 2018 Sep 9.

Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan. Electronic address:

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of ranulas. In addition, to elucidate DWI findings and ADC values of other representative masses in and around the floor of the mouth.

Study Design: DWI findings and ADC values in 35 patients with ranulas and 33 patients with other masses were retrospectively reviewed with a central focus on cystic masses or lesions that may have cyst-like components in and around the floor of the mouth based on the diagnosis of each respective disease. Read More

J Family Community Med 2018 Sep-Dec;25(3):217-219

Department ENT, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Univeristy, College of Medicine, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Plunging ranula (PR) is a cystic mass presenting on the lateral side of the neck with or without a history of the usual presentation of an intraoral lesion. "PR" is recognized as an uncommon lesion that has been found predominantly in the third decade of life mostly in males. However, the exact prevalence of "PR" is not yet known. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2018 Sep - Oct;39(5):497-500. Epub 2018 May 26.

Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, 02114, United States. Electronic address:

Objective: A plunging ranula is a pseudocystic collection of mucin extravasated from the sublingual gland into the floor of mouth and through the mylohyoid muscle into the neck. While the lining of a ranula is non-secreting and resection of the sublingual gland is adequate for simple sublingual mucoceles, many surgeons attempt to address plunging ranulas with extensive transoral and transcervical dissections. We review our experience managing plunging ranulas with intraoral sublingual gland excision and ranula drainage alone. Read More

J Clin Exp Dent 2018 Jan 1;10(1):e92-e95. Epub 2018 Jan 1.

Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Tamilnadu government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India.

The term Ranula is a Latin word meaning frog. It refers to a bluish translucent cystic lesion in the floor of the mouth resembling the underbelly of a frog. 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. Read More

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2018 Jun 1;119(3):172-176. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lille Teaching Hospital, Roger Salengro Hospital, Lille Teaching Hospital, 59000 Lille, France; Inserm U 1008, Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, Roger Salengro Hospital, Lille Teaching Hospital, 59000 Lille, France. Electronic address:

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features and treatment outcomes in order to determine the optimal management of ranulas in our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department with long-term results.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate patients with a final diagnosis of a simple or plunging ranula at Lille Teaching Hospital from May 2000 to January 2017. Clinical data on ranulas that were reviewed included gender, age, symptoms, location of the lesion, surgical procedures, complications, recurrence and follow-up. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2018 01 29;6(1):109-114. Epub 2017 Nov 29.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit General Hospital Lagos Island Lagos Nigeria.

Plunging ranulas are rare; report of this condition is particularly limited in our environment. We present case series in children; with all cases having both oral and cervical components. It is important to note this type of presentation of plunging ranula and their appropriate management. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2018 Oct 21;88(10):1043-1046. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Logan Hospital, Logan City, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Plunging ranulas are rare mucous extravasation pseudocysts that arise in the floor of the mouth and pass into the submandibular space of the neck. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnosis, surgical management and outcomes of patients with a plunging ranula at our institution in South East Queensland over a 10-year period.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of adult patients diagnosed with and treated for plunging ranula between 2006 and 2016 at Logan Hospital was conducted. Read More

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2017 29;79(6):306-313. Epub 2017 Nov 29.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Background/aims: Plunging ranulas are oral mucoceles that often cannot be visualized directly and thus can be challenging to diagnose and differentiate from other neck lesions. Surgery is the preferred treatment option, but the optimal approach requires careful consideration.

Methods: We report the case of a plunging ranula presenting as an isolated neck mass in a 33-year-old patient. Read More

J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg 2017 Oct-Dec;22(4):251-253

Department of Paediatric Surgery, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Congenital ranula is rare. We report a large, symptomatic, congenital plunging ranula associated with a salivary gland cyst in the neck. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such reported case. Read More

J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;41(5):381-383

A ranula is a lesion that arises from mucin spillage from the sublingual or submandibular gland ducts, beneath the mucosa of the oral floor. A plunging or cervical ranula dissects the mylohyoid muscle and appears as a submandibular swelling. Rarely, a plunging ranula is encountered without its oral counterpart. Read More

Acta Otolaryngol 2017 Dec 28;137(12):1271-1274. Epub 2017 Jul 28.

a Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery , Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.

Objectives: To review our clinical experience and characteristics of Finnish patients with plunging ranula and compare our results with reports from other populations.

Design: A retrospective study from the electronic hospital records between 2005 and 2016.

Setting: The Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. Read More

Ann Maxillofac Surg 2017 Jan-Jun;7(1):155-158

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

An elderly female patient presented to surgical outpatient clinic with complaint of gradual onset of painless submental and sublingual midline swellings for 6 months of duration. The swellings were noncompressible, nontranslucent, nonpulsatile, and nontender on palpation. Clinical diagnosis was plunging ranula or dermoid cysts. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2017 Jun 5;97:154-156. Epub 2017 Apr 5.

University of Minnesota, Department of Otolaryngology, United States; Children's of Minnesota, Pediatric ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, United States.

Objective: The aim of this case study is to demonstrate that post-operative complication rates of sublingual gland excision for treatment of ranulas are equal to or less than alternative methods with a lower recurrence rate than other surgical methods.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of pediatric patients from 2004 to 2015 at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Sixteen ranulas and 6 plunging ranulas were treated via sublingual gland excision during this time frame. Read More

J Surg Case Rep 2017 Apr 4;2017(4):rjx068. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

Histopatholgy Department, Wirral Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral CH49 5PE, UK.

Ancient schwannomas are benign, slow-growing tumours derived from the neural sheath. They are characterized by degenerative changes which are not seen in the common schwannoma. An unusual case of ancient schwannoma of the sublingual space is reported to highlight the diagnostic challenge that this tumour presents. Read More

Laryngoscope 2017 10 13;127(10):2239-2241. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, U.S.A.

Evidence supporting any one treatment for plunging ranula is limited. Standard treatment-complete excision of the sublingual gland and ranula-is invasive and morbid given the close operative proximity to the submandibular duct and lingual nerve. OK-432 (Picibanil; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Read More

World J Surg 2017 06;41(6):1476-1481

Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Jos & Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

Background: There is no consensus opinion on a definitive surgical management option for ranulas to curtail recurrence, largely from the existing gap in knowledge on the pathophysiologic basis.

Aim: To highlight the current scientific basis of ranula development that informed the preferred surgical approach.

Design: Retrospective cohort study. Read More

Pediatr Rep 2016 Nov 23;8(4):6576. Epub 2016 Dec 23.

Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Maternal and Children's Health, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S.Matteo and Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia , Pavia , and Ospedale dei Bambini "G. Di Cristina", A.R.N.A.S. Palermo, Italy.

Few cases of plunging ranulas (PRs) occur during childhood and the lesions are frequently misdiagnosed. Here, a PR in a child is reported along with a literature review. A seven-year-old female complaining of swelling in the midline neck, left-submandibular region, was evaluated. Read More

B-ENT 2017;13(1 Suppl 27):57-60

Plunging ranula with prestyloid parapharyngeal space, masticator space, and parotid gland extension.

Introduction: Ranulas develop from mucous extravasation secondary to sublingual gland duct obstruction or trauma. Plunging ranula usually dive into the submandibular space. Read More

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2016 Nov 25;54(9):992-996. Epub 2016 Jul 25.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 3(rd) Floor, Bermondsey Wing, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT. Electronic address:

Excision of the sublingual gland is the traditional cure for ranulas, but is invasive with considerable morbidity. We report techniques that have been developed to minimise this by targeting their specific pathophysiology, which include an intraoral approach to plunging ranulas, and gland-preserving selective excision with a highly conservative suture technique for simple ranulas. Fifty-four ranulas in 53 (20 male and 33 female, mean age 29 (range 7-57) years) consecutive patients were treated by a single surgeon between 2001-14 and their records reviewed retrospectively. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 12 14;126(12):2739-2743. Epub 2016 Jun 14.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Counties Manukau Health, Auckland, New Zealand.

Objectives/hypothesis: Estimate the incidence rate and provide basic descriptive epidemiologic characteristics of plunging ranulas in a multi-ethnic population.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Methods: The study group comprised all Counties Manukau Health (CMH, Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand) patients presenting to the CMH Department of Otolaryngology with a diagnosis of plunging ranula from January 2001 to December 2013, as recorded in the departmental case register. Read More

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2016 Dec 15;54(10):1131-1133. Epub 2016 Apr 15.

Nair Hospital Dental College, Dr. A.L.Nair Road, Opp. Maratha Mandir, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, 400008. Electronic address:

A mucocoele or extravasation of mucus is common in minor salivary glands, but unusual in major ones. Those from the submandibular gland are a diagnostic challenge and conventional management includes excision of the associated gland. We describe a 27-year-old man with a mucocoele of the submandibular gland that presented as a lateral cervical swelling and looked like a plunging ranula. Read More

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2016 12 8;54(10):1144-1145. Epub 2016 Apr 8.

Chief Resident, Pathology department, BDF Hospital, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Apr 30;83:69-73. Epub 2016 Jan 30.

Department Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, UT, USA.

Objective: To evaluate ranula development according to anatomic variation of the ductal system of sublingual gland (SLG), especially the presence of Bartholin's duct.

Methods: The anatomic variation of SLG duct was prospectively investigated and compared between 55 consecutive patients with ranulas treated by SLG excision (group 1) and another 15 consecutive patients undergoing similar surgeries for other conditions (group 2). The ductal structures of SLGs and submandibular glands (SMG) were also compared between the pediatric patients and adult patients with ranulas. Read More

Korean J Radiol 2016 Mar-Apr;17(2):264-70. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the pathogenesis of plunging ranulas in regard of the pathway of lesion propagation using CT scans.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 41 patients with plunging ranula. We divided plunging ranulas into two types: type 1 was defined as those directly passing through a defect of the mylohyoid muscle with the presence (type 1A) or absence (type 1B) of the tail sign and type 2 as those through the traditional posterior route along the free edge of the mylohyoid muscle. Read More

Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac Chir Orale 2016 Apr 22;117(2):84-8. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, hôpital de la Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille cedex 05, France; Aix-Marseille université, Jardin du Pharo, 58, boulevard Charles-Livon, 13284 Marseille cedex 07, France; Laboratoire parole et langage (LPL), UMR 6057, boulevard Pasteur, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France.

Introduction: Ranula is a pseudocyst of the sublingual gland, often of unknown etiology. In few cases, it can extend to the neck when passing through the mylohyoid muscle. Diagnosis is not always easy as other cervical cystic lesions may have the same clinical aspect. Read More

SADJ 2014 Oct;69(9):416-8

A 32-year-old male patient who was HIV positive presented at the Wits Oral Health Centre complaining of a large swelling of the left submandibular region of three years' duration. The swelling was nontender, soft and doughy on palpation and appeared to be crossing the midline. Bilateral submandibular and submental lymphadenopathy was present. Read More

Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2015 Sep 1;53(3):133-135. Epub 2015 Sep 1.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.

Plunging or cervical ranula is a mucus extravasation pseudocyst arising from the sublingual gland that is located below the mylohyoid muscle. Clinically, if large enough, cervical ranulas can affect swallowing, speech, chewing, and even breathing. The acute presentation of ranulas, which are clinically known as slow-growing, painless masses, is rare. Read More

J Clin Diagn Res 2015 Jun 1;9(6):MD01-3. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of dental Sciences , KIMSDU, Karad, Maharashtra, India .

Ranula is a salivary gland cyst which typically present as localized superficial swelling over the floor of mouth. Complex or plunging ranulas develop when the mucus extravasation extends through or around the mylohyoid muscle, deeper into the neck, and present with neck lump along with or without swelling over floor of mouth. We report a case of large plunging ranula presenting as an isolated large neck mass in a 38-year-old female patient. Read More

J Laryngol Otol 2015 May 16;129(5):509-12. Epub 2015 Apr 16.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics,Iowa City,USA.

Objective: To highlight the value of sialendoscopy during transoral resection of the sublingual gland for a plunging ranula to prevent iatrogenic injury to the submandibular duct.

Method And Results: The clinical course of a 20-year-old male with a plunging ranula was analysed. The patient underwent transoral resection of the affected sublingual gland and pseudocyst. Read More

J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2015 Apr 22;73(4):675.e1-7. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.

Purpose: Some believe that the recurrence of sublingual ranula results from incomplete removal of the sublingual gland (SLG), but recurrence remains in some patients who undergo repeated excision of the remnant SLG, and the final solution to the recurrence is to remove the ipsilateral submandibular gland (SMG). In the authors' experience, preoperative aspirate from a sublingual ranula was a thick mucus-like fluid resembling egg white, whereas that from recurrent cyst after removal of the SLG was thin serous fluid. Based on the difference of the aspirated fluids, the authors speculated that the recurrent cystic mass might not be a ranula, but rather iatrogenic saliva leakage from the SMG through the previous surgically damaged excretory duct of the SLG (Bartholin duct) that opens into the SMG duct (Wharton duct). Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2015 Apr 29;33(4):597.e3-4. Epub 2014 Mar 29.

Emergency Medicine Residency, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003.

Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 2015 Mar 9;23(1):49-61. Epub 2015 Jan 9.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center, The University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, 1930 Alcoa Highway, Suite 335, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA. Electronic address:

Case Rep Pediatr 2014 3;2014:831923. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.

A plunging ranula is a soft-tissue mass stemming from a mucous extravasation cyst of the sublingual gland which can herniate through the mylohyoid muscle. We describe a case in which a 14-year-old girl presented with a rapidly expanding mass on the floor of her mouth affecting her ability to swallow and speak and causing tracheal compression. The patient was initially managed conservatively with antibiotics and steroids; however, the mass continued to expand necessitating emergent bedside incision and drainage and subsequent surgical intervention. Read More

Laryngoscope 2015 May 28;125(5):1130-6. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

Department of Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe clinical characteristics of oral mucoceles/ranulas, with a focus on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related salivary gland diseases.

Study Design: A descriptive and clinical study, with review of patient data.

Material And Methods: We reviewed 113 referred cases of oral mucocele. Read More

Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014 Dec;22(6):525-9

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Head and Neck Tumor Surgery, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P.R. China.

Purpose Of Review: Ranula is extravasation mucocele arising from the sublingual gland, influencing the swallowing or eating; this review focuses on the most recent literature pertaining to pediatric ranulas and aims to comprehensively describe the methods of diagnosis and management approaches.

Recent Findings: Ranulas consist of intraoral ranula and plunging ranula, which are frequently misdiagnosed, so it is vital for the differential diagnosis of pediatric ranulas to depend on the clinical examination, imaging and fine-needle aspiration cytology. Pediatric patients should first be observed for 6 months before other treatments. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2014 Aug;33(8):1491-7

Department of Radiology, Middlemore Hospital, Manukau, New Zealand (P.J.); and Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (R.J.).

Objectives: Plunging ranulas have been shown to have a common trio of mylohyoid defects, sublingual gland herniation, and submandibular space fluid collections. The herniated sublingual gland may be susceptible to subclinical trauma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of occurrence of various types of active sublingual gland herniation observed during diagnostic sonographic studies. Read More

Aust Dent J 2014 Jun;59(2):264-7

Center of Implant Dentistry, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology and Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Plunging ranulas most commonly occupy the submandibular triangle and misdiagnosis inevitably leads to incorrect treatment. Three cases of plunging ranula are reported. The correct diagnosis resulted from the characteristic signs of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Read More

Anesth Essays Res 2014 Jan-Apr;8(1):114-6

Departments of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Bankura, West Bengal, India.

Plunging ranula is a rare form of mucous retention cyst arising from submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, which may occasionally become huge occupying the whole of the floor of the mouth and extending into the neck, thus, restricting the neck movement as well as disfiguring the normal airway anatomy. Without fiberoptic assistance, blind or retrograde nasal intubation remains valuable choices in this type of situation. Here, we present a case of successful management of airway by blind nasal intubation in a patient posted for excision of a huge plunging ranula. Read More

J Maxillofac Oral Surg 2012 Dec 22;11(4):487-90. Epub 2011 Mar 22.

Department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Gitam dental college and hospital, Visakhapatnam, 530045 Andhra Pradesh India.

N Z Med J 2013 Nov 1;126(1385):81-6. Epub 2013 Nov 1.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Middlemore Hospital, Private Bag 93 311, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand.

Aim: Presentation of two bilateral plunging ranula cases and then review of the plunging ranula literature to understand current concepts on aetiology, imaging for diagnosis and management.

Method: A literature review using PubMed (92 papers) and Google Scholar (18 papers) has revealed only 18 cases of bilateral plunging ranulas ever published and with the addition of the two cases presented this makes a total of 20.

Results: These cases are reviewed and information related to aetiology and management is presented. Read More

Acta Otolaryngol 2014 Feb 16;134(2):201-5. Epub 2013 Oct 16.

Department of Otolaryngology - HNS, Chonbuk National University, Medical School, Chonju , Chonbuk , Republic of Korea.

Conclusions: The intraoral approach for removal of the plunging ranula is a safe and effective surgical approach as a primary treatment modality for plunging ranula.

Objectives: Although sclerotherapy is applied for plunging ranula, it can be primarily treated with surgery such as marsupialization, simple excision, and transcervical excision. This study was performed to assess the results of the intraoral approach for the treatment of plunging ranula. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Oct;139(10):1073-4

Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2012 Jul;3(2):211-3

Department of General Surgery, C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Epidermoid and dermoid cysts represent less than 0.01% of all oral cavity cysts. We describe a rare case of large epidermoid cyst in floor of mouth, with an oral as well as submental component resembling plunging ranula reported in the literature from India. Read More

Quintessence Int 2013 Nov-Dec;44(10):773-81

Objectives: Common complications associated with dental implant surgery are well recognized and are usually explained to patients during the process of informed consent. For the general dental practitioner, the periodontist, and the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, it is relevant to also be familiar with less frequent complications. This review gathers unusual complications of this surgical procedure and presents unique complications from single case reports. Read More

Head Neck 2014 Apr 1;36(4):540-4. Epub 2013 Jun 1.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate ranula development according to anatomic variation of the sublingual gland (SLG).

Methods: We conducted a prospective, consecutive case series considering other clinical conditions. Twenty-five cases treated by SLG excision were enrolled in this study. Read More

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2013 Nov 29;42(11):1469-74. Epub 2013 May 29.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, UK.

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. Read More

HNO 2013 Jul;61(7):669-72

Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie, Klinikum der Universität München.

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. Read More

Imaging Sci Dent 2013 Mar 11;43(1):55-8. Epub 2013 Mar 11.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

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. Read More

Saudi Med J 2013 Mar;34(3):313-5

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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. Read More

Clin Anat 2013 Sep 27;26(6):693-9. Epub 2013 Jan 27.

Department of Oral Pathology, King's College London Dental Institute at Guy's, King's College and St Thomas' Hospitals, London, England.

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. Read More