Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

The Flexible Rhino-Laryngoscope for Awake Nasotracheal Intubation

The Flexible Rhino-Laryngoscope for Awake Nasotracheal Intubation

Published on: August 2, 2024

Giant plunging ranula: a case report.

Seong-Ha Kim¹, Kyung-Hoe Huh, Chang-Hyeon An

¹Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Imaging Science in Dentistry

|March 26, 2013

Summary

A ranula is a fluid-filled swelling originating from the sublingual gland. This case highlights a plunging ranula, emphasizing the importance of radiological differentiation from cystic hygroma for appropriate surgical management.

Related Concept Videos

Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management

Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management

Patients with esophageal strictures often experience a range of symptoms. Initially, they may have difficulty swallowing solid foods, which can progress to include liquids. Additional symptoms may involve chest pain or discomfort, regurgitating food and fluids, heartburn, unintentional weight loss, coughing or choking during meals, and hoarseness.
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Effect of calcium and magnesium ion incorporation on the osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs on SLA-treated titanium implant surfaces.

Journal of oral science·2026

Same author

Wearable Electro-Thermal Haptic Stimulator Driven by a Self-Powered Tactile Sensor for Realistic Stimulus Replication.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Effect of smoking intensity on clinical outcomes of implants placed with simultaneous guided bone regeneration: a 5-year retrospective study.

Journal of oral science·2026

Same author

Corrigendum to "Integrative multi-scale physiological, metabolic, and proteomic reprogramming in tomato under polyethylene microplastic stress" [Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 316 (2026), 120148].

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety·2026

Same author

Automated Detection of Carotid Artery Stenosis Using a Sensitive Accelerometer Wearable Sensor and Interpretable Machine Learning.

Biosensors·2026

Same author

Improved ecological risk assessment of phenol in sediments via species sensitivity distribution and equilibrium partitioning method using water toxicity data.

Scientific reports·2026

Area of Science:

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Radiology
Surgical Pathology

Background:

Ranulas are benign cystic lesions in the floor of the mouth, typically arising from sublingual gland saliva extravasation.
Plunging ranulas extend beyond the sublingual space into adjacent fascial planes, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

A 21-year-old woman presented with a large left submandibular swelling.
Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a midline-dissecting lesion extending to the parapharyngeal and submandibular spaces, with septa and a fluid-fluid level.

Findings:

The lesion was diagnosed as a plunging ranula based on its central location and the presence of a sublingual tail sign.
Distinguishing ranulas from cystic hygromas is crucial due to differing surgical treatment strategies.

Keywords:

Contrast Media Mouth Floor Ranula Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

The Flexible Rhino-Laryngoscope for Awake Nasotracheal Intubation

The Flexible Rhino-Laryngoscope for Awake Nasotracheal Intubation

Published on: August 2, 2024

Implications:

Accurate radiological differentiation of plunging ranulas from other cystic masses like hygromas is essential for guiding surgical planning.
Understanding the anatomical spread of ranulas informs surgical approaches and improves patient outcomes.