MUCOCELE

A 30-year old white Caucasian male addressed to NYCCT clinic for a regular dental cleaning. The patient’s medical history check didn’t reveal any serious medical conditions. The patient was a non-smoker, and didn’t take any medications. During intraoral examination, a round (about 7mm in diameter), pale pink , elevated, soft, non-tender swelling to the right of the middle third of the median palatine raphe was noticed. The patient was not aware of the lesion, and stated that he never had any discomfort in that area. The swelling was examined by our faculty professor Dr. Brown, an oral pathologist. She concluded that that was a mucocele, an alteration of a minor salivary gland.

Mucocele is a common, benign oral lesion. It is often caused by trauma that leads to blockage of minor salivary gland duct, or destruction of a salary gland itself. A minor salivary gland produces mucus. Buildup of mucus that cannot be drained out through a damaged duct causes the gland to swell. Usually mucocele is less than 1 cm in diameter. Common sites are lower lip, tongue, buccal mucosa, and floor of the mouth. Often patients present no discomfort unless it gets bigger in size, and bothers during function.

After the dental cleaning completion, the patient was given a referral to oral surgeon for lesion evaluation. Mucocele is usually treated by surgical excision with gland removal; cryosurgery or laser surgery give successful results as well.