Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T20:56:34.266Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Acute presentation of a plunging ranula causing respiratory distress: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2012

K G Effat
K G Effat*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, El-Sahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
*
Address for correspondence: Dr K G Effat, 51A El-Madina El-Monawara St, Madinat El-Mohandeseen, Giza, Egypt E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

A plunging ranula is an uncommon cause of neck swelling which typically presents in a gradually progressive fashion. This report describes a rare case of acute presentation of a plunging ranula. The condition progressed rapidly to respiratory distress, requiring urgent surgery.

Case report:

A 14-year-old male student presented with a rapidly enlarging neck swelling associated with a sublingual swelling. Computed tomography suggested the diagnosis of plunging ranula. Several hours after admission, the neck swelling became very tense and the sublingual swelling enlarged dramatically. The tongue was pushed upwards and backwards by the sublingual swelling, causing respiratory embarrassment and requiring urgent surgery. Four months after surgery, there was no evidence of recurrence.

Conclusion:

To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first case report of a plunging ranula progressing acutely and rapidly to cause respiratory compromise. The literature is reviewed and pertinent features concerning the diagnosis and management of plunging ranula are presented.

Keywords

RanulaAirway ObstructionSublingual Gland
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 861 - 863
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Morton, RP, Ahmad, Z, Jain, P. Plunging ranula: congenital or acquired. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2010;142:104–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2 Zhao, Y, Jia, Y, Chen, X, Zhang, W. Clinical review of 580 ranulas. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2004;98:281–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Harrison, JD. Modern management and pathophysiology of ranula: literature review. Head Neck 2010;32:1310–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Gossett, JD, Smith, KS, Sullivan, SM. Harsha, BC. Sudden sublingual and submandibular swelling. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1999;57:1353–6Google Scholar
5 Mahadevan, M, Vasan, N. Management of pediatric plunging ranula. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2006;70:1049–54Google Scholar
6 McGurk, M, Eyeson, J, Thomas, B, Harrison, JD. Conservative treatment of oral ranula by excision with minimal excision of the sublingual gland: histological support for a traumatic etiology. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2008;66:2050–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 McClatchey, KD, Haley Appelblatt, N, Zarbo, RJ, Merrel, DM. Plunging ranula. Oral Surg 1984;57:408–12CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Guyton, AC, Hall, JE. Secretory functions of the alimentary tract. In: Guyton, AC, Hall, JE, eds. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th edn. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders, 2006;791–807 Google Scholar
9 Huang, S-F, Liao, C-T, Chin, S-C, Chen, I-H. Transoral approach for plunging ranula – 10-year experience. Laryngoscope 2010;120:53–7Google Scholar
10 Chow, T-L, Chan, SWW, Lam, S-H. Ranula successfully treated by botulinum toxin type A: report of 3 cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2008;105:41–2Google Scholar
11 Ohta, N, Fukase, S, Watanabe, T, Ito, T, Aoyagi, M. Effects and mechanism of OK-432 therapy in various neck cystic lesions. Acta Otolaryngol 2010;130:1287–92CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed