Management of the pediatric plunging ranula: results of 15 years' clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to evaluate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of the plunging ranula in children.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study of 129 pediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of plunging ranula was conducted. All children underwent clinical assessment and fine needle aspiration cytology. Cytologic diagnosis was considered to be definitive, and radiologic investigations were not conducted. Intraoral excision of the ipsilateral sublingual gland and partial pseudocyst was performed for all patients.

RESULTS

The preoperative diagnosis was consistent with postoperative and histopathologic analyses in all cases. There were no recurrences at 36 months' follow-up. There were no long-term complications as of writing this report.

CONCLUSIONS

Fine needle aspiration cytology can be used as the routine method to reach a diagnosis for plunging ranula, especially in the absence of floor of mouth involvement. Intraoral excision of the ipsilateral sublingual gland and partial pseudocyst is an effective and safe method for the treatment of the plunging ranula in the pediatric population, with absence of recurrence and low morbidity.