Mucocyst

[KariKH]

My 23 year-old daughter just had a mucocyst removed.  It was the size of a peanut, the surgery removed it with a margin totalling the size of a small grape.  She also had an ovarian cyst removed 2 years ago.  Are these related?
What causes a mucocyst, will she be predisposed to develop one again?  Please educate me about this.  I have looked for info on this and find no info; the info sites ask if I looking for mucousal or other words.

[Top 3 Dentists]

mucocele (MYOO-koh-seal) is a swelling in your mouth. It can happen when a salivary gland is injured or blocked.
You have many salivary glands in your mouth. They secrete saliva. Saliva is made of water, mucus and enzymes.

Saliva moves from a gland into your mouth through tiny tubes called ducts. Sometimes, one of these tubes is cut. The saliva pools at the cut spot and causes a swelling, or mucocele. These swellings commonly occur inside the lower lip. They also can be found in other places inside the mouth, including the roof of the mouth and the floor of the mouth.

Swelling also can occur if one of these tubes is blocked and saliva backs up in the tube. If swelling occurs because the submandibular duct is blocked, the mucocele is called a ranula. A ranula is quite large and appears under the tongue.










Mucocele

What Is It?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
When To Call A Professional
Prognosis



What Is It?


A mucocele (MYOO-koh-seal) is a swelling in your mouth. It can happen when a salivary gland is injured or blocked.
You have many salivary glands in your mouth. They secrete saliva. Saliva is made of water, mucus and enzymes.

Saliva moves from a gland into your mouth through tiny tubes called ducts. Sometimes, one of these tubes is cut. The saliva pools at the cut spot and causes a swelling, or mucocele. These swellings commonly occur inside the lower lip. They also can be found in other places inside the mouth, including the roof of the mouth and the floor of the mouth.

Swelling also can occur if one of these tubes is blocked and saliva backs up in the tube. If swelling occurs because the submandibular duct is blocked, the mucocele is called a ranula. A ranula is quite large and appears under the tongue.


Symptoms


Most mucoceles do not hurt. They can be annoying, though. They get in the way of eating or speaking. Shallow mucoceles may burst. They release straw-colored fluid. Deeper ones can last longer. They are more likely to bother you.


Diagnosis


Your dentist will look for a rubbery, bubblelike swelling. It is usually inside the lower lip or under the tongue. Some mucoceles look blue. Your dentist will ask if you experienced trauma in that area. Maybe you bit your lip or were hit in the face with something. Also, some medicines can thicken your saliva. This can plug up a salivary gland and cause a mucocele.
Mucoceles occur only where you have salivary glands.

If you have a blue swelling that looks like a mucocele, your dentist may put pressure on it to see if it changes color (blanches). If it does, it may be a harmless growth made of blood vessels. This is known as a hemangioma.

Your dentist may take out the swollen tissue. It will be sent to a laboratory. The laboratory can tell if the tissue is a mucocele, or if it is something else. You may get an X-ray of the area. The X-ray will show if you have a salivary gland stone (sialolith). X-rays often are done for people who have ranulas.


Prevention


Mucoceles are common. Trauma is a leading cause. Try not to bite your lip.


Treatment


Sometimes a mucocele goes away without treatment. But if some mucoceles remain untreated, they can scar over. Your dentist should examine any swelling in your mouth.
A mucocele usually is removed. The dentist may use a scalpel or a laser. The mucocele tissue is then sent to a laboratory. There is a chance that the surgery could cause another mucocele.

Some doctors use corticosteroid injections before trying surgery. These sometimes bring down the swelling. If these work, you would not need surgery.


When To Call A Professional


Contact your dentist if any swellings or sores in your mouth last for longer than two weeks.


Prognosis


Treating mucoceles is not complicated. The outlook is good.