Treatment outcomes of the intraoral approach for a simple ranula.

OBJECTIVE

The study sought to determine the optimal surgical treatment of a simple ranula and analyzed the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of a simple ranula in our hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed to evaluate patients with a diagnosis of a simple ranula at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital from November 2007 to August 2013. Clinical data on simple ranulas that were reviewed included gender, age, symptoms, duration of symptoms, location and size of lesion, surgical procedures, complications, recurrence, and follow-up.

RESULTS

The 24 patients included in the study comprised 10 males and 14 females. Sixteen patients (66.7%) did not have a prior treatment history. Eight patients had undergone previous treatment, which included Picibanil injection sclerotherapy, incision and drainage, and micromarsupialization. The simple ranula recurred after excision of the ranula and the sublingual gland in only one (4.2%) of 24 cases. In eight patients who had undergone previous treatment, there was no recurrence after excision of the ranula and sublingual gland. There were no major complications and recurrences in the patients with recurrent simple ranulas.

CONCLUSIONS

Excision of the ranula and the sublingual gland via intraoral approach is the optimal treatment for a simple ranula, even in the case of a recurrent simple ranula.