Superficial Mucocele: A Rare Presentation

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Dermatology
• Salivary gland disorders

Background:

• Superficial mucoceles are benign, translucent vesicles resulting from minor salivary gland duct rupture.
• Unlike conventional mucoceles, their etiology is unclear and not linked to trauma.
• They can be recurrent, asymptomatic, or cause discomfort, and are often misdiagnosed as vesiculobullous lesions.

Observation:

• A rare case of superficial mucocele presented along the midline of the hard palate.
• The patient was a 30-year-old male.
• The lesion was histopathologically confirmed after surgical excision.

Findings:

• Surgical excision was performed for the symptomatic lesion.
• Histopathological confirmation ruled out other vesiculobullous conditions.
• The patient remained disease-free with no recurrence at six months post-surgery.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis for superficial mucoceles, especially rare presentations.
• Surgical excision is an effective treatment for symptomatic or recurrent lesions.
• Understanding the differential diagnosis is crucial to avoid misclassification with other oral lesions.