Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho Gets Ranula Cysts?AppearanceAvoid Popping ItTreatmentComplicationsAftercare and Oral Hygiene
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who Gets Ranula Cysts?
Appearance
Avoid Popping It
Treatment
Complications
Aftercare and Oral Hygiene
A ranula is a cyst under the tongue. It happens when a saliva gland leaks saliva into the surrounding tissue, forming a cyst.
A ranula can appear as a clear bump under the tongue or small bubble under the tongue. A plunging ranula grows downward into the neck and may appear as a bulge in the neck. Ranulas sometimes resolve independently, but they often need treatment, which involves draining the cyst and preventing thesaliva glandfrom leaking. Ranulas should never be popped or drained at home.
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Anyone can get a ranula. However, they’re most common in children and adolescents.Ranulas occur when a saliva gland becomes blocked or leaks saliva into the surrounding tissue. Often, there’s no clear cause for this. However, having trauma to the head or mouth can damage the gland, and lead to a ranula.Hits to the face, biting the lower lip, or having oral surgery can all contribute to getting a ranula.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoNadiia Borodai / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Nadiia Borodai / Getty Images
What Do They Look Like?
While ranulas usually appear as a small, clear bump under the tongue, they also can be blue-ish bubble. Ranulas are not painful, so they often go unnoticed until they’re big enough to cause discomfort.
A plunging ranula is a variation that grows downward into the neck, rather than upward into the floor of the mouth. Plunging ranulas can be hard to see, but may appear as a pump or lump on the neck or below the chin.
Bumps Elsewhere in the MouthA ranula can only occur under the tongue, on the floor of the mouth. Cysts on the roof of the mouth, cheeks, lips, or on the tongue itself are called mucoceles. They’re often from bites or other trauma.
Bumps Elsewhere in the Mouth
A ranula can only occur under the tongue, on the floor of the mouth. Cysts on the roof of the mouth, cheeks, lips, or on the tongue itself are called mucoceles. They’re often from bites or other trauma.
Reasons to Avoid Popping One at Home
You should never pop a cyst, since doing so can lead to infection. The same is true for a ranula. In addition, most ranulas will reappear even if you pop or drain them. A healthcare provider needs to address the leaking gland in order to stop the ranula from reforming.
In addition, your healthcare provider will want to examine the ranula carefully using ultrasound and other imaging. This helps rule out other, more serious causes oftongue bumpsand will be used to create a treatment plan.
Will a Ranula Go Away on Its Own?
It’s rare for a ranula to go away on its own.Even if the ranula drains or pops on its own, it will likely reappear. That’s because the damaged gland is still leaking saliva. Very small ranulas might not need treatment, but your healthcare provider will likely want you to seek treatment if the ranula causes any changes to swallowing or talking.
How Do You Get Rid of a Ranula?
A healthcare provider treats a ranula in two ways: they drain the ranula and also stop the salivary gland from leaking to prevent reoccurrence.
If a healthcare provider only makes an incision to drain the cyst, the ranula will reoccur in two-thirds of cases because the gland still makes saliva. Your primary care physician might refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) or an oral surgeon for treating a ranula.
Treatment options include:
Complications Related to Removal
Treating a ranula usually is very safe. Because there is a risk of recurrence, though, you may need a second procedure. There is also a small risk of nerve damage to the area surrounding the gland that is being removed or treated.
Your healthcare provider will instruct you on aftercare. If you have a percutaneous treatment, you shouldn’t need to make any special adjustments. After surgery, you may have to avoid certain foods or beverages.
Summary
A ranula is a cyst under the tongue that happens when a damaged salivary gland leaks into the surrounding tissue. Ranulas should never be popped or drained at home. Doing so can cause infection and they will likely recur. Instead, talk with your healthcare provider about the ranula, and choose a treatment plan that drains the cyst while also addressing the leaking gland.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.Ranula.Chen N, Zeng DS, Su YT.Role of ranulas in early diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome: A case report.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(20):5701-5708. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5701Nationwide Children’s.Ranula.MedlinePlus.Oral mucous cyst.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Ranula.Nationwide Children’s.Salivary gland ablation.Ryu KH, Lee JH, Lee JY, et al.Ethanol ablation of ranulas: short-term follow-up results and clinicoradiologic factors for successful outcome.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017;38(9):1794-1798. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5292
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.Ranula.Chen N, Zeng DS, Su YT.Role of ranulas in early diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome: A case report.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(20):5701-5708. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5701Nationwide Children’s.Ranula.MedlinePlus.Oral mucous cyst.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Ranula.Nationwide Children’s.Salivary gland ablation.Ryu KH, Lee JH, Lee JY, et al.Ethanol ablation of ranulas: short-term follow-up results and clinicoradiologic factors for successful outcome.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017;38(9):1794-1798. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5292
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.Ranula.Chen N, Zeng DS, Su YT.Role of ranulas in early diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome: A case report.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(20):5701-5708. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5701Nationwide Children’s.Ranula.MedlinePlus.Oral mucous cyst.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Ranula.Nationwide Children’s.Salivary gland ablation.Ryu KH, Lee JH, Lee JY, et al.Ethanol ablation of ranulas: short-term follow-up results and clinicoradiologic factors for successful outcome.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017;38(9):1794-1798. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5292
Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.Ranula.
Chen N, Zeng DS, Su YT.Role of ranulas in early diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome: A case report.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(20):5701-5708. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i20.5701
Nationwide Children’s.Ranula.
MedlinePlus.Oral mucous cyst.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Ranula.
Nationwide Children’s.Salivary gland ablation.
Ryu KH, Lee JH, Lee JY, et al.Ethanol ablation of ranulas: short-term follow-up results and clinicoradiologic factors for successful outcome.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017;38(9):1794-1798. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5292
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