A Rare Cause of Acute Respiratory Distress: Cervical Ranula

Plunging or cervical ranula is a mucus extravasation pseudocyst arising from the sublingual gland that is located below the mylohyoid muscle. Clinically, if large enough, cervical ranulas can affect swallowing, speech, chewing, and even breathing. The acute presentation of ranulas, which are clinically known as slow-growing, painless masses, is rare. In this study, we present a case of cervical ranula that grew in a short period of 3 days and resulted in respiratory distress and that was operated in our clinic.