Plunging ranula extending
from the parapharyngeal space
to the base of the skull: report of two cases
Tomoe Chuujoh, Masahito Takada, Masaki Kohno,
Tamio Nakajima, Takafumi Hayashi*, Makoto Suzuki**
First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of
Dentistry,
Niigata University (Chief, Prof Tamio Nakajima)
*Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of
Dentistry,
Niigata University (Chief, Prof Jusuke Ito)
**Laboratory for Surgical Pathology, Niigata University Dental
Hospital
(Chief, Prof Takashi Saku)
Abstract: Two cases of plunging ranula extending the parapharyngeal
space to the base of the skull were reported. The first case was a
10-year-old girl with a fluctuating swelling in the right
submandibular region. The second case was a 17-year-old woman with a
similar swelling in the left submandibular region.
Intraoraly, there were no swelling in the
floor of the mouth nor pus discharge from the Wharton's duct and
salivary flow was good in both patients. Preoperative computed
tomograhy showed a cystic lesion in the sublingual space which
extended from the parapharyngeal space to the base of the skull. The
clinical diagnosis was plunging ranula in both cases.
Marsupialization and extirpation of the sublingual gland were
performed under general anesthesia.
The postoperative course was
uncomplicated with no sign of recurrence in either case. The computed
tomograhy was useful for the diagnosis, and extirpation of the
sublingual gland may be recommended for the treatment of plunging
ranulas with extensive extension to the surrounding spaces.
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