• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2007

Background and Objectives: A plunging ranula represents a mucus escape reaction occuring because of the disruption of the sublingual salivary gland. It is commonly a condition of young adults, although the reported age range is 6-43 years. There is said to be a slightly female preponderance of about 1.9:1(F:M). Surgical incision has been considered the definite treatment, but sometimes complete excision is very difficult. Non-surgical treatment of these lesions has been attempted, but the results have not been satisfactory. In this study, we present our experiences with picibanil (OK-432) sclerotherapy for a plunging ranula. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 41 patients who have undergone sclerotherapy with picibanil for plunging ranula. Information was collected on age, sex, a number of injection, post-sclerotherapy side effect and outcome of treatment. Results: 17 patients (41.5%) showed a complete response, and 20 patients (48.7%) showed inter-mediate response. No response was seen in 4 patients (9.8%). As a side effect of intracystic OK-432 injection therapy, fever (26.8%) and pain(39.0%) were observed. However, fever and pain disappeared after several days in all cases. Conclusion: The results are showing that OK-432 injection is an effective and safe treatment for plunging ranula.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2001

Whereas oral ranula is relatively common and presents as a cyst in the mouth, the plunging ranula is rare and manifests itself as a mass in the neck with or without an associated oral lesion. When there is a soft anterior neck swelling without oral swelling, diagnosis is still difficult. In such a case, clinical suspicion may be low and the pathologist may be misled by the histologic appearance. Recognition of the diagnosis of plunging ranula is essential for the correct treatment of these lesions. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl and review the literatures to discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment modalities.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2010

Purpose: A plunging ranula is relatively uncommon and represents a mucus escape reaction occurring from a disruption of the sublingual salivary gland. It is a common condition found in young adults, even though the reported age range is 2 - 61 years. We report our experience of a complete excision of a plunging ranula via the intraoral and submandibular approach. Methods: A 23-year-old man had a large protruding mass in the right submandibular area. Initially, the protruding mass appeared bilaterally but the left side disappeared spontaneously. The MRI findings revealed a homogenous fluid attenuation mass in the submandibular space, suggesting a ranula. The sublingual gland was extirpated through the intraoral approach and the ranula excised totally via the submandibular approach. Results: The patient had an uneventful postoperative course without infection, paralysis and tongue sensory changes, etc. The pathology findings were characteristic of a pseudocyst without a lining epithelium or endothelium but with a vascular fibro-conective tissue wall filled with mucinous fluid. No recurrence was observed on the submandibular area during the 8 month follow-up period. Conclusion: The combined intraoral approach and submandibular approach is an effective and highly recommended method for sublingual gland extirpation and complete excision of a plunging ranula.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2023

A plunging ranula is a pseudocyst caused by mucus secreted from the sublingual glands, and it is mainly observed on the mouth floor. Nowadays, sclerotherapy using picibanil has been performed instead of invasive surgical treatment, and studies are reporting safe and effective outcomes. In our study, more than 92% of the 25 patients had marked response after picibanil sclerotherapy, and no serious complications were observed. Picibanil sclerotheraphy can be considered as the primary treatment of plunging ranula for patients who refuse surgery under general anaesthesia.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2023

Sublingual resection is known as the most effective treatment of choice to prevent recurrence in patients with plunging ranula. In this case report, we present our experience with a 37 year-old man with prolonged upper neck mass diagnosed as plunging ranula. He had persisting mass lesion even after 4 times of sclerotherapy. Due to fibrotic change the pseudocyst could not be drained after removing the sublingual gland. To resolve the mass lesion, ultrasonography guided transoral drainage was performed. Intraoperative ultrasonography may be useful for transoral drainage of plunging ranula difficult to approach after sublingual resection.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.75-78
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• 2010

Purpose: Whereas oral ranula is relatively common and presents as a cyst in the mouth, the plunging ranula is rare and manifests itself as a mass in the neck with or without an associated oral lesion. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics of rare bilateral plunging ranula arising from accessory submandibular gland in order to provide our experience for its correct diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A 13-year-old girl manifests as a slow growing painless, non-mobile swelling in the anterior neck. She underwent surgery via a cervical approach. A pseudocyst was extirpated and adjacent accessory gland tissue and related lymph node were removed. Results: The histologic appearance is characteristically of a cyst, devoiding of epithelium or endothelium, with a vascular fibro-connective tissue wall containing some chronic inflammatory cells and macrophage stuffed with mucin. Pathologic findings represented a form of myxomatous degeneration and lined by condensed connective tissue and granulation tissue. The nature of the accessory gland tissue was same as subligual gland. Although total submandibular or sublingual gland excision was not performed, no recurrence was observed during 6 months follow-up periods. Conclusion: Usually, unilateral plunging ranula develops commonly because of rupture of sublingual gland duct by trauma and extravasation of salivary secretion to the adjacent tissue. But our case developed because of bilateral congenital accessory submandibular gland. This is thought to be a result from a congenital failure of canalization of the terminal end of the duct. Finally, the correct diagnosis is essential for the most effective treatment, which is excision of the ranula and related accessory salivary gland. We performed excision of accessory submandibular gland and plunging ranula and had a good result without recurrence.