Mucocele or Mucus extravasation phenomenon or Mucus escape reaction
Mucocele is a common lesion of the oral mucosa that results from the rupture of salivary gland duct and spillage of mucin into the surrounding soft tissues. This usually occurs from a trauma that effects the normal functioning of the salivary gland duct and damage to the duct.
Most of the times, the cause for mucocele is not known.
This mucocele can be considered as a cyst or a polyp as it has no epithelial lining around it, and a true cyst should have a lining around it.
Table of contents -
Clinical findings of a Mucocele
Common sites where mucocele is formed
Histopathologic features
Treatment and prognosis
Clinical findings of a Mucocele -
Typically dome shaped mucosal swelling that is seen on the oral tissues, and ranges from 1-2 mm to several cms in size.
It most commonly affects children and young adults.
The mucocele is characteristically fluctuant and is sometimes firm.
Color of the swelled area is bluish and is translucent in nature, but when going deeper, the color becomes normal.
The reaction can occur for a few days to several years.
Recurrent swelling that ruptures and releases its fluid contents.
Common sites where mucocele is formed -
Mucocele is most commonly seen on the lower lip, records of over 60% cases having mucocele in lower lip, lateral to midline.
Less common sites are Buccal mucosa, lateral ventral tongue and floor of the mouth.
And it is rarely seen in the upper lip region.
Histopathologic features -
Area of spilled mucin surrounded by granulation tissue response.
