Ranula

Ranula
A ranula is a mucus filled cyst from an obstruction in the salivary gland. Ranula can be found in the mouth known as oral ranula or in the neck known as cervical ranula. The oral ranula usually can be found under the tongue which produces a sublingual ranula.

Ranula vary in size and in color hinging on how deep-rooted the cyst is. Depending on the size of the cyst, it can may make it unbearable to eat or talk. Periodically, the cyst will subside on its own but if that is not the case then a marsupialization may have to be performed by an oral surgeon. A marsupialization is when the oral surgeon creates a pocket by opening the cyst to enable the cyst to fill with liquid again. If this doesn't repair the cyst then the it will have to be removed along with the gland that is blocked to keep it from coming back.