MUCOCELE IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: CASE SERIES ANALYSIS

The mucocele, a mucus accumulation from the salivary gland, represents a common lesion of the oral cavity. From 44 % to 79 % of mucoceles occur on the lower lip. There is no gender predilection and it can arise at any age. Mucoceles do not cause direct obstruction of salivary flow, and the amount of secretion that can be extravasated is limited by the elasticity of the surround tissues. In the period between January 2001 December 2010, 21 patients underwent to ulcer treatments at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 9 females and 12 males. Age ranged from 5 months to 13 years with a mean value of 7 years. All were located in the lower lip. Mucocele were treated with surgical excision, 13 under general anesthesia and the remaining under local anesthesia. Several techniques have been proposed: initial cryosurgical approach, CO2 laser, marsupialization and complete resection: this last is in most cases the best option.