Two Cases Reports of Plunging Ranula

Abstract

The formation of plunging ranula is related to extravasation of salivary secretions and source of the extravasation seems to be sublingual gland.
However it is difficult for supplemental methods of exploration, such as computed tomography, echography, etc. to reveal the source and existence of plunging ranulas. Therefore, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination.
In two cases of plunging ranula, we suspected that the source was the sublingual gland and that the lesions extended from the sublingual region to the cervical region through the posterior edge of mylohyoid muscle on MRI. The sublingual gland was removed through the mouth. No dissection of the cervical ramifications associated with the ranula was undertaken, and these disappeared once the source of the extravasating saliva was removed.