Huge Submandibular Gland Mucocele With Diagnostic Difficulties

J Craniofac Surg. 2022 Nov-Dec;33(8):e784-e785. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000008532. Epub 2022 Feb 4.

Abstract

Submandibular gland mucoceles, which are very rare cystic lesions, make differentiation from other cystic neck masses such as plunging ranula and cystic lymphatic malformation difficult. The authors report a rare huge submandibular gland mucocele with diagnostic difficulties. A 39-year-old woman with painless swelling in the left submandibular region underwent OK-432 injection therapy with a diagnosis of plunging ranula at another hospital. However, she was referred to our department for recurrent swelling. Computed tomography showed a well-circumscribed, multilocular, low-density lesion in the left submandibular region. Fine needle aspiration was performed, and the content of the cystic lesion was yellowish-brown serous fluid. After the fine needle aspiration, computed tomography was performed. The cystic lesion was radiologically diagnosed as submandibular gland mucocele. Therefore, the patient underwent endoscopically-assisted intraoral removal of the sublingual and submandibular glands under general anesthesia. The pathological diagnosis was submandibular gland mucocele.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mucocele* / diagnostic imaging
  • Mucocele* / surgery
  • Oral Ulcer*
  • Ranula* / diagnostic imaging
  • Ranula* / surgery
  • Sublingual Gland
  • Submandibular Gland / pathology
  • Submandibular Gland Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Submandibular Gland Diseases* / surgery