Rânula mergulhante em paciente pediátrico de 5 anos de idade: relato de caso / Diving ranula in 5-year-Old pediatric patient: case report / Hundimiento de ranula en paciente pediátrico de 5 años: reporte de caso

Introdução: Rânula é um fenômeno de extravasamento de muco, também chamado cisto de retenção de muco, que ocorre especificamente no soalho bucal. A origem da mucina extravasada é usualmente da glândula sublingual, podendo, porém, se originar do ducto da glândula submandibular ou, ainda, das glândulas salivares menores presentes no soalho de boca. Rânulas de dimensões maiores usualmente originam se do corpo da glândula sublingual. Relato de caso: Este trabalho descreve um caso em uma criança de 5 anos de idade com uma rânula em região lateral esquerda de língua, e discutir questões sobre o tratamento desta patologia. Considerações finais: Há várias formas de tratamento, sendo as mais usadas a marsupialização, concomitante ou não com a excisão cirúrgica da lesão e da glândula salivar envolvida... (AU)

Introduction: Ranula is a phenomenon of mucus leakage, also called mucus retention cyst, which occurs specifically in the mouth floor. The origin of the extravasated mucin is usually from the sublingual gland, but it can originate from the duct of the submandibular gland or even from the minor salivary glands it presents on the floor of the mouth. Larger sized ranulas usually arise from the body of the sublingual gland. Case report: This work is a case in a 5-year-old child with a ranula in the left tongue region, and discuss about the treatment of this pathology. Final considerations: There are several forms of treatment, the most used being marsupialization, concomitant or not with a surgical excision of the lesion and the involved salivary gland... (AU)

Introducción: Ránula es un fenómeno de fuga de moco, también llamado quiste de retención de moco, que ocurre específicamente en el piso de la boca. El origen de la mucina extravasada suele ser de la glándula sublingual, pero puede originarse en el conducto de la glándula submandibular o incluso en las glándulas salivales menores presentes en el suelo de la boca. Las ranulas de mayor tamaño generalmente surgen del cuerpo de la glándula sublingual. Reporte de caso: Este artículo describe un caso en un niño de 5 años con una ránula en la región lateral izquierda de la lengua y analiza cuestiones sobre el tratamiento de esta patología. Consideraciones finales: Existen varias formas de tratamiento, siendo las más utilizadas la marsupialización, concomitante o no con la exéresis quirúrgica de la lesión y de la glándula salival afectada... (AU)

Plunging ranula presenting as a giant retroauricular mass: A case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Plunging ranula is rare and manifests as the submandibular or submental cystic mass, without intra-oral abnormality. It usually causes misdiagnosis and malpractice. This article reported a case of plunging ranula that appeared as a massive mass located behind the left ear. A 6-year-old child presented with recurrent left retroauricular swelling over six months without obvious inducement. The mass showed repeatedly swelling and persistent skin ulcers. Physical examinations described a fluctuant, nontender mass behind the left ear whose size was about 5 cm×5 cm×3 cm. The skin upon the surface of the mass was thin and red, and overflowed yellow slimelike contents. Computed tomography (CT) showed an extensive cystic lesion in the left neck. After local incision and drainage the mass was shrink. With the primary clinical diagnosis of branchial cyst, the patient underwent mass resection through postauricular incision. During the operation, the fistula was traced to the area around the sublingual gland, and the postoperative pathology report demonstrated cystic spaces occurring in soft tissue without lymphoid tissue. One month postoperatively, the patient presented the "egg-white", wire-drawing transparent viscous fluid outflowing from the left external auditory canal, indicating that the fluid in the external auditory canal originated from the sublingual gland and the disease was the plunging ranula presenting as a giant left retroauricular mass. We readmitted the patient to the hospital and the ipsilateral sublingual gland was completely removed in the mouth under general anesthesia. No clinical evidence of recurrence was found at the end of 9 months follow-up. So far, there is no literature reporting plunging ranula behind ear. This case report describes the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis and treatment of a case of plunging ranula, and reveals that, other than the submandibular or submental, plunging ranula also could be found in retroauricular region. The plunging ranula is difficult to fully confirm through a clinical character, and usually easy to be misdiagnosed as other tumors, like lymphatic malformation, venous malformations, etc. Radiographic examination and/or puncture fluid observation are required for identification. "Egg-white", wire-drawing mucous secretion is the most important characteristic in clinical diagnosis of sublingual gland cyst. However, if sublingual gland resection, i.e. removal of the source of cyst fluid is performed, a good prognosis can be achieved.

Diagnosis and treatment of congenital submandibular duct dilatation / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features and treatments of congenital submandibular duct dilatation.@*METHODS@#Seven children with congenital submandibular duct dilatation from January 2008 to March 2018 were included in this study, whose average age was 5 months and 22 days. The clinical manifestations are unilateral swelling of the mouth floor. All seven children underwent sublingual gland resection, submandibular gland dilatation catheter resection, and catheter reroute under general anesthesia. Intraoperatively, the orifice of the submandibular gland was constricted and part of the catheter was dilated.@*RESULTS@#All seven patients had good healing without swelling or cyst formation.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Congenital submandibular duct dilatation occurs at a young age. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further expansion of the catheter and avoid gland atrophy, feeding difficulty, and breathing obstruction. Simultaneous excision of the sublingual gland can avoid the formation of postoperative sublingual cyst.

Case report of the management of the ranula

Ranula is a mucocele caused by extravasation of the sublingual gland on the floor of the mouth. The most common presentation is a cystic mass in the floor of the mouth. A portion of the sublingual gland could herniate through the mylohyoid muscle, and its extravasated mucin can spread along this hiatus into submandibular and submental spaces and cause cervical swelling. This phenomenon is called plunging ranula. A variety of treatments for ranula has been suggested and include aspiration of cystic fluid, sclerotherapy, marsupialization, incision and drainage, ranula excision only, and excision of the sublingual gland with or without ranula. Those various treatments have shown diverse results. Most surgeons agree that removal of the sublingual gland is necessary in oral and plunging ranula. Four patients with ranula were investigated retrospectively, and treatment methods based on literature review were attempted.

Long-circulating and target-specific distributions of cyanine 5.5-labeled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles in mouse organs during 28 days after a single administration / 대한수의학회지

Although hyaluronic acid (HA) has been developed as a nanoparticle (NP; 320–400 nm) for a drug delivery system, the tissue targeting efficacy and the pharmacokinetics of HA-NPs are not yet fully understood. After a dose of 5 mg/kg of cyanine 5.5-labeled HA-NPs or HA-polymers was intravenously administrated into mice, the fluorescence was measured from 0.5 h to 28 days. The HA-NPs fluorescence was generally stronger than that of HA-polymers, which was maintained at a high level over 7 days in vivo, after which it gradually decreased. Upon ex vivo imaging, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, testis and sublingual gland fluorescences were much higher than that of other organs. The fluorescence of HA-NPs in the liver, spleen and kidney was highest at 30 min, where it was generally maintained until 4 h, while it drastically decreased at 1 day. However, the fluorescence in the liver and spleen increased sharply at 7 days relative to 3 days, then decreased drastically at 14 days. Conversely, the fluorescence of HA-polymers in the lymph node was higher than that of HA-NPs. The results presented herein may have important clinical implications regarding the safety of as self-assembled HA-NPs, which can be widely used in biomedical applications.

Differential immunohistochemical expression of type I collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 2 among major salivary glands of young and geriatric mice

Abstract Objective This study aimed to demonstrate the immunohistochemical changes associated with MMP-2 and type 1 collagen separately for the first time in the major salivary glands (the parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual glands) that occur with aging in mice. Material and Methods Fourteen Balb/c white mice (50-80 g) were used in this study. The animals were divided into two equal groups. Group I consisted of young animals (2-month-old) (n=7) and Group II consisted of older animals (18-month-old) (n=7). After routine histological follow-ups, Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Masson's Trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining was performed for type I collagen and MMP-2. Results We observed that there were age-related decreases in the number of acinar cells, increase in eosinophilic zymogen granules in cells, collagen accumulation in fibrotic areas and dilatation in interlobular ducts. Also, while type I collagen and MMP-2 immunoreactivity were moderate in the salivary glands of the young mice, they were high in the salivary glands of the old mice (p=0.001). In the H-score assessment, MMP-2 immunoreactivity was lower at a significant level in young mice than in old mice (p=0.001). Conclusions This study showed that anatomical, physiological and morphological abnormalities occur in all three major salivary glands as a natural consequence of aging.

Usefulness of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with oral and maxillofacial diseases and 28 volunteers drawn from our student doctors were examined by shear wave elastography with a 14-MHz linear transducer using an Aplio 300 apparatus (Canon Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan). A statistical analysis of the shear elastic modulus (kPa) of healthy tissue (the sublingual gland, submandibular gland, anterior belly of the digastric muscle, and geniohyoid muscle) in the 28 volunteers was performed using 1-way repeated measures analysis of variance with the Tukey honest significant difference test. The maximum shear elastic modulus (kPa) of 8 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 2 patients with benign lesions was evaluated with the Mann-Whitney U test. The analysis used a 5% significance level. RESULTS: The mean shear elastic modulus of the sublingual gland (9.4±3.7 kPa) was lower than that of the geniohyoid muscle (19.2±9.2 kPa, P=.000) and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle (15.3±6.1 kPa, P=.004). The maximum shear elastic modulus of the SCCs (109.6±14.4 kPa) was higher than that of the benign lesions (46.4±26.8 kPa, P=.044). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated the usefulness of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases. Shear wave elastography has the potential to be an effective technique for the objective and quantitative diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases.

Does Cimicifuga racemosa have the effects like estrogen on the sublingual gland in ovariectomized rats?

BACKGROUND: Cimicifuga racemosa is one of the herbs used for the treatment of climacteric syndrome, and it has been cited as an alternative therapy to estrogen. Apart from hectic fevers, dyspareunia and so on, dry mouth also increase significantly after menopause. It has not yet been reported whether C. racemosa has any impact on the sublingual gland, which may relate to dry mouth. In an attempt to determine this, we have compared the effects of estrogen and C. racemosa on the sublingual gland of ovariectomized rats. RESULTS: HE staining showed that the acinar cell area had contracted and that the intercellular spaces were broadened in the OVX (ovariectomized rats) group, while treatment with estradiol (E2) and iCR (isopropanolic extract of C. racemosa) improved these lesions. Transmission electron microscopy showed that rough endoplasmic reticulum expansion in mucous and serous acinar epithelial cells and apoptotic cells was more commonly seen in the OVX group than in the SHAM (sham-operated rats) group. Mitochondria and plasma membrane infolding lesions in the striated ducts were also observed. These lesions were alleviated by both treatments. It is of note that, in the OVX + iCR group, the volume of mitochondria in the striated duct was larger than in other groups. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the ratio of caspase-3 positive cells was significantly increased in the acinar cells of the OVX group compared with the SHAM group (p < 0.05); and the MA (mean absorbance) of caspase-3 in the striated ducts also increased (p < 0.05). Estradiol decreased the ratio of caspase-3 positive cells and the MA of caspase-3 in striated ducts significantly (p < 0.05). ICR also reduced the ratio of caspase-3 positive cells and the MA in the striated ducts (p < 0.05), but the reduction of the MA in striated ducts was inferior to that of the OVX + E2 group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both estradiol and iCR can inhibit subcellular structural damage, and down-regulate the expression of caspase-3 caused by ovariectomy, but their effects were not identical, suggesting that both drugs confer a protective effect on the sublingual gland of ovariectomized rats, but that the specific location and mechanism of action producing these effects were different.

Significance of Sublingual Gland Excision in Surgical Treatment of Ranula / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ranulas, pseudo cysts found on the floor of mouth, develop from the retention or extravasation of saliva from the sublingual gland. The main treatment of ranula is surgical excision but the extent of surgery is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of sublingual gland excision in the surgical treatment of ranula. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 112 patients with ranula who had undergone surgical excision from January 2004 to April 2016. Those who underwent any previous treatment such as sclerotherapy, marsupialization, or excision of cyst were excluded in the study. Surgical outcomes including complications and recurrence were compared between the group that went through simple cyst excision and the group that went through cyst and sublingual gland excision. RESULTS: Of 112 patients, 94 were simple ranula and 18 were plunging ranula. Thirty-seven (33%) were male and 75 (67%) were female. Of the 94 simple ranula patients, 23 underwent excision of cyst only; the remaining 71 patients and all other patients with plunging ranula underwent excision of cyst and sublingual gland together. The recurrence rate was significantly lower for the cyst and sublingual gland excision group than for the simple cyst excision group (2.2% vs. 17.4%, p=0.004). The complication rate did not differ between the two groups (4.3% vs. 1.1%, p=0.298). CONCLUSION: The excision of sublingual glands as well as cysts is an important option to reduce recurrence in the surgical treatment of ranula.

Marsupialización modificada de ránula gigante intraoral: reporte de caso / Modified marsupialisation of a giant intraoral ranula: case report

La ránula intraoral es una enfermedad benigna seudoquística de extravasación que tiene su origen en las glándulas salivales sublinguales. Es una entidad poco prevalente. Es más frecuente en niños y adolescentes, con características clínicas propias que la diferencian de otras entidades de la boca. Su tratamiento es quirúrgico y varias técnicas han sido descritas en la literatura: marsupialización simple y modificada, enucleación de la lesión, extirpación de la glándula junto con enucleación de la ránula. Si bien la extirpación de la glándula junto con la enucleación de la lesión es el tratamiento definitivo radical y más aceptado, la marsupialización modificada puede ser útil como alternativa de tratamiento quirúrgico conservador en casos de ránulas intraorales gigantes, disminuyendo los riesgos de morbilidad quirúrgica y presentando bajos índices de recurrencia, mientras su aplicación sea cuidadosa. El siguiente reporte de caso describe el manejo clínico de forma quirúrgica conservadora mediante marsupialización modificada, con un seguimiento de 12 meses sin signos de recidiva.

The intraoral ranula is a benign pseudo-cystic extravasation with its origin in the sublingual salivary glands. It is an infrequent disease. It is more common in children and adolescents, with its own clinical characteristics that differentiate it from other entities in the mouth. The treatment for this condition is surgical, and several techniques have been described in the literature: simple and modified marsupialisation, enucleation of the lesion, and removal of the gland with enucleation of the ranula. While the removal of the gland with enucleation of the lesion is the widely accepted radical and definitive treatment, marsupialisation may be useful as an alternative to conservative surgical treatment in cases of giant intraoral ranula, reducing the risk of surgical morbidity, and presenting with low rates of recurrence, while its application should be performed with care. The case is presented that describes the conservative surgical treatment with marsupialisation in its clinical management, with a 12 months follow up without signs of recurrence.

Efeitos do metilfenidato sobre as glândulas salivares maternas de camundongos / Methylphenidate effects on maternal salivary glands of mice

Introdução: O metilfenidato (MFD) é um derivado anfetamínico estimulante do sistema nervoso central, que vem sendo cada vez mais consumido pela população mundial, incluindo as mulheres em idade fértil. Ainda não foram estabelecidos os efeitos deste medicamento nas glândulas salivares, durante a gestação. Objetivo: Identificar alterações histomorfológicas em glândulas salivares maternas expostas ao metilfenidato. Material e método: Para análise histológica, foram utilizadas 32 fêmeas de camundongos Swiss prenhes, distribuídas em um grupo controle e um grupo tratado. A administração foi realizada do quinto ao 17º dia de gestação, via injeção subcutânea; o grupo tratado recebeu 5 mg/kg de metilfenidato, enquanto o grupo controle recebeu o mesmo volume de solução salina estéril. As fêmeas foram eutanasiadas e tiveram suas glândulas salivares removidas e incluídas em parafina para análise em microscopia óptica. Para avaliar a associação entre as variáveis dos grupos, o teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e o teste T foram utilizados. Resultado: As glândulas parótidas do grupo tratado apresentaram alterações no raio dos ductos e na quantidade de ácinos, quando comparadas às glândulas parótidas do grupo controle. A glândula submandibular do grupo tratado foi a mais afetada: mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa na espessura da parede dos ductos secretores, no raio dos ductos e no raio dos ácinos, quando comparada à glândula submandibular do grupo controle. A glândula sublingual não apresentou alterações significativas. Conclusão: Neste delineamento experimental, o metilfenidato apresentou-se como agente indutor de alterações morfológicas das glândulas salivares, promovendo alterações significativas nos raios de ductos e ácinos das mesmas, sendo a glândula submandibular a mais susceptível a este fármaco.

Introduction: Methylphenidate (MFD) is a stimulant amphetamine derivative of the central nervous system, which is being increasingly consumed by the world population, including women of childbearing age. It has not yet established the effects of this medicine in the salivary glands during pregnancy. Objective: Evaluate the exposure effects to the MPD in the maternal salivary glands. Material and method: For prenatal study, 32 pregnant female Swiss mice were used, divided into a control and a treated group. The treated group received 5 mg/kg of MPD via subcutaneous injection from the 5th to the 17th day and the control received sterile saline in the same volume and pregnancy period. Females were euthanized and had their salivary glands removed and embedded in paraffin for analysis in optical microscopy. To evaluate the association between the variables of the groups, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and and T test were used. Result: The parotid glands of the treated group showed statistically significant change within the ducts and the amount of acini when compared to the control group. The submandibular gland was the most affected, it showed a difference statistically significant in wall thickness of the secretory ducts, within the ducts and within the acini when compared to the control group. The sublingual gland showed no significant changes. Conclusion: In this experiment methylphenidate is presented as inducing agent morphological changes of the salivary glands, promoting significant changes in ducts radii and acini, submandibular gland being more susceptible to this drug.

A Case of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in Sublingual Glands without Autoimmune Disease / 대한이비인후과학회지

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are low-grade extranodal B-cell lymphomas that may involve various sites in the head and neck including the thyroid, salivary, and lacrimal glands. In particular, primary salivary gland MALT lymphoma is rare, with sublingual gland tumors especially rarer and frequently malignant. In Korea, there has been no reported case of MALT lymphoma in sublingual glands. Here we report a case of a MALT lymphoma in the sublingual gland.

A Case of Fish Bone-Induced Submandibular Gland Stone / 대한이비인후과학회지

Sialolithiasis is the most common disorder associatd with major salivary glands. It may form in any salivary glands or ducts, but is reported to occur more often in the submandibular gland than in the parotid or sublingual gland. Although the pathogenesis is not perfectly revealed, there appear to be several factors that predispose the submandibular gland duct to be a common site of sialolithiasis. Sialolithiasis occurs as a consequence of the precipitation of calcium salts around a central nidus of desquamated epithelial cells, inflammatory cells, mucoid gels or foreign body. However, it is not a common thing that foreign body entered into the salivary duct through duct orifice may act as the initiating factor. We have recently experienced a case in a 52-year-old female, in which sialolithiasis seems to have formed due to a a foreign body, a fish bone, in the right submandibular gland duct.

Pathophysiology and Management of the Ranula / 대한이비인후과학회지

Ranulas are pseudocysts on the floor of the mouth resulting from the retention or extravasation of saliva from the sublingual gland (SLG). The etiology of ranulas is unknown, but they have been associated with local trauma or previous surgery. The anatomic variation of the ductal system of the SLG such as Bartholin's duct might be a possible cause of ranulas. Treatment modalities range from conservative to various surgical techniques, including sclerotherapy, marsupialization, excision of the ranulas with or without excision of the SLG and botox injection. Recently, less invasive treatment modality such as micro-marsupialization has been introduced. It was able to easily and safely treat the ranulas. But it also has the possibility of recurrence, especially in cases having anatomic variation of the ductal system of the SLG. A definitive and reliable treatment choice is surgical resection of the SLG with or without marsupialization than other, more conservative treatments.

A Case of Cystadenocarcinoma Arising from Parotid Gland / 대한이비인후과학회지

Cystadenocarcinoma, a term established by the 2005 World Health Organization classification system to an entity of cystadenocarcinoma, is a rare malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. Major locations of this neoplasm are the parotid gland, sublingual gland, and minor salivary glands. We encountered a case of cystadenocarcinoma originating from a parotid gland in a 28-year old man. He received radiation therapy followed by superficial parotidectomy. At 18 months of follow-up, no recurrence is observed. We herein report the case with a review of literature.

Neurilemmoma in the floor of the mouth: a case report

Neurilemmomas are well-encapsulated, benign, slow-growing tumors originating from Schwann cells of the nerve sheath surrounding cranial, peripheral, or autonomic nerves. Intraoral neurilemmomas are relatively rare and have a wide variety of morphologic and radiologic features. This makes differential diagnosis difficult, and only histopathological features can lead to a definitive neurilemmoma diagnosis. In this report, we present the case of a 30-year-old woman whose chief complaint was a solitary, nodular mass on the right floor of the mouth. After computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, we performed an incisional biopsy that showed the typical characteristics of a neurilemmoma. The mass was removed completely through an intraoral surgical approach. Despite losing a portion of the lingual nerve, the patient did not complain of any specific discomfort. Wound healing was uneventful and there were no signs or symptoms of recurrence.

In situ Hybridization for the Detection and Localization of the Bitter Taste Receptor Tas2r108 in the Murine Submandibular Gland

Mammals have 3 pairs of major salivary glands i.e., the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Saliva secretion of these glands is modulated by taste perception. Salivary glands are composed mainly of acinar and ductal cells. Primary saliva is secreted by acinar cells and modified during ductal flow. Recently, of the murine 35 bitter taste receptors, Tas2r108 was expressed at highest levels in the submandibular gland by qPCR. Further, Tas2r108-transfected cells respond to a range of bitter compounds, such as denatonium, quinine, colchicine, diphenidol, caffeine and dapson. The objective of the present study was to characterize the expression of Tas2r108 mRNA in acinar and/or ductal cells of the submandibular gland using in situ hybridization (ISH). Male 42-60 days old DBA2 mice were used in the study. Messenger RNAs were extracted from the submandibular gland for generating digoxigenin (DIG) labeled-cRNA probes. These probes were transcribed in anti-sense and sense orientation using T7 RNA polymerase. Dot blot hybridization was performed using DIG labeled-cRNA probes, in order to estimate integrity and optimal diluting concentration of these probes. Subsequently, ISH was performed on murine submandibular gland to detect Tas2r108 mRNA. Dot blot hybridization data demonstrated that Tas2r108 DIG labeled-cRNA anti-sense probes specifically detected Tas2r108 cDNA. ISH results showed that the anti-sense probes labeled acinar and ductal cells in the submandibular gland, whereas no staining was visible in sense controls. Interestingly, the Tas2r108 expression levels were higher in acinar than ductal cells. These results suggested that Tas2r108 might be more associated with primary saliva secretion than with ductal modification of saliva composition.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the sublingual gland: A case report

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the sublingual gland is an extremely rare neoplasm. The clinicopathological characteristics of ACC are slow-growing swelling with or without ulceration, perineural spread, local recurrence, and distant metastasis. This report describes a 58-year-old male who had a slowly growing swelling without ulceration on the right side of the mouth floor that had been present for 1 month. In a radiological examination, the mass showed multilocular cystic features and no bony or tongue muscle invasion. No enlarged cervical lymph nodes were detected. Excisional biopsy and histological analysis showed that the lesion was ACC. In addition to reporting a rare case of ACC, this report also discusses the differential diagnosis and treatment of ACC with a review of the relevant literature.

Plunging Ranulas Revisited: A CT Study with Emphasis on a Defect of the Mylohyoid Muscle as the Primary Route of Lesion Propagation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the pathogenesis of plunging ranulas in regard of the pathway of lesion propagation using CT scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 41 patients with plunging ranula. We divided plunging ranulas into two types: type 1 was defined as those directly passing through a defect of the mylohyoid muscle with the presence (type 1A) or absence (type 1B) of the tail sign and type 2 as those through the traditional posterior route along the free edge of the mylohyoid muscle. Images were also analyzed for the extent of the lesion in respect to the spaces involved. As for type 1 lesions, we recorded the location of the defect of the mylohyoid muscle and the position of the sublingual gland in relation to the defect. RESULTS: CT scans demonstrated type 1 lesion in 36 (88%), including type 1A in 14 and type 1B in 22, and type 2 lesion in 5 (12%). Irrespective of the type, the submandibular space was seen to be involved in all cases either alone or in combination with one or more adjacent spaces. Of the 36 patients with type 1 lesions, the anterior one-third was the most common location of the defect of the mylohyoid muscle, seen in 22 patients. The sublingual gland partially herniated in 30 patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the majority of plunging ranulas take an anterior shortcut through a defect of the mylohyoid muscle.

Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation in human sublingual glands: a microscopic postmortem study

Although some morphological investigations on aged human sublingual glands (HSG) found eventual phenomena identified as autolysis and mucous extravasation, the exact meaning of these findings has not been elucidated.Objective The aim of this work is to investigate whether acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation are related to the aging process in human sublingual glands. We also speculate if autolytic changes may assist forensic pathologists in determining time of death.Material and Methods 186 cadavers’ glands were allocated to age groups: I (0–30 years); II (31–60), and III (61–90). Time and mode of death were also recorded. Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation were classified as present or absent. Ultrastructural analysis was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Data were compared using Mann-Whitney U, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests (p<0.05).Results There was correlation between age and acinar autolysis (r=0.38; p=0.0001). However, there was no correlation between autolysis and time of death. No differences were observed between genders. TEM showed mucous and serous cells presenting nuclear and membrane alterations and mucous cells were more susceptible to autolysis.Conclusion Acinar autolysis occurred in all age groups and increased with age while mucous extravasation was rarely found. Both findings are independent. Autolysis degrees in HSG could not be used to determine time of death.