Ranulas--mucoceles of the oral cavity: experience in 26 children

Ranulas or mucoceles of the floor of the mouth are uncommon but do occur in approximately 5% of patients undergoing submandibular duct relocation for the management of uncontrollable sialorrhea. Review of our experience with 26 patients over 12 years ending in 1986 substantiated a concept previously advocated by other authors that ranulas are usually extravasation pseudocysts developing after disruption of sublingual gland elements, and that excision of the ipsilateral sublingual gland is the management approach of choice.