A Conservative Approach for Treating Ranula: Excision and Partial Sublingual Glandectomy

Abstract

A ranula is a mucous extravasation cyst originating from the sublingual gland due to ductal disruption or trauma. It commonly presents as a cystic swelling on the floor of the mouth. In some cases, a portion of the sublingual gland herniates through the mylohyoid muscle, allowing mucin to track into the submandibular and submental spaces, resulting in cervical swelling, a condition termed plunging ranula. Various treatment modalities, including aspiration, sclerotherapy, marsupialization, incision and drainage, excision of the ranula alone, or complete removal of the sublingual gland, have been described, with mixed success rates. Most evidence supports the removal of the sublingual gland as a definitive treatment for both oral and plunging ranulas. This clinical narrative study (Case-Based Research) examines a single patient treated for a ranula, highlighting a conservative approach through partial sublingual glandectomy and evaluating its outcomes in the context of existing literature.