Marsupialization as a ranula management: case report

Abstract

Objective: Ranula is a form of cyst occuring because of obstruction major salivary gland. Ranula is a phenomenon of sublingual gland duct retention in mouth floor. That results in a bluish swelling in mouth floor. It usually occurs unilaterally and appears as a fluctuating swelling like a frog belly. Methods: A 9 years old girl patient complained of a swelling in her mouth floor. Clinical examination shows a reddish blue mass in her mouth floor with a size of 4x3x3 cm pushing the tongue upward. Patient came with a good general condition and it can impair speaking, eating or swallowing. This case is managed by marsupialization. The following is incision as long as 2 cm in the mass surface only in mucous facing directly to the mass capsule, bleeding control. The entire mass liquid is removed until the iodoform gauze is filling as antiseptic, the margins of the mucosa are suture Results: Etiology of ranula is still unknown but it is suspected because of trauma, and salivary gland obstruction. Clinically, ranula has an apearrance as a swelling in the mouth floor pushing the tongue upward, it is more likely to be unilaterally rather than bilaterally. That swelling has a thin transparant wall, reddish blue, grows slowly and appears lika a frog belly. Big size ranula will push salivary gland duct and impairs salivary flow. Conclusion: Marsupialization as the treatment of ranula has a good result.