Micro-marsupialization as a conservative therapeutic approach for management of pediatric oral mucoceles

Abstract

Background: Alteration of minor salivary glands due to a mucous accumulation is known as mucocele. It is considered to be a common oral mucosa lesion in pediatric and adolescents. The invasive conventional surgical technique, including surgical excision of the mucocele with the affected minor salivary gland, is not preferred especially in large lesion and in pediatric patients. Objective: This research aims to study the efficacy of micro-marsupialization as a new conservative technique for management of oral mucoceles in pediatric patients. Patients and methods: A prospective study was carried out using the clinical records of patients under 12 years old. The patient's age was ranged between 6 and 12 years old with a mean of 9.83 years. Twelve patients were included; they were suffering from mucocele and were treated using conservative micro-marsupialization as a solo treatment via draining the mucus out of the mucoceles to reduce its size and allowing subsequent healing. All children were recalled for clinical evaluation after 1 week, 1, and 3 months. Patients and methods: Out of the 12 children, seven (58.3%) children were complaining of lower lip mucoceles with 100% success, while the other five (41.7%) children were complaining of oral ranula, the micro-marsupialization technique showed 80% of successful results plus one recurrent case after 1 month of the technique that was treated by conventional marsupialization with packing. Results: Micro-marsupialization has proved to be a simple technique, the best choice management for pediatric mucoceles. It is rapid to perform, noninvasive, painless, requires only surface anesthesia, effective, low recurrence, well-tolerated by children, and can be easily performed by dental general practitioner in daycare outpatient departments safely.