title: A comparison of three methods used for treatment of ranula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report compares the treatment results for oral and plunging ranulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients were retrospectively examined concerning treatment methods and recurrence on the basis of their medical records. The surgical specimens were also examined microscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients had excision of the ranula only, 22 had marsupialization, and nine had removal of the sublingual gland combined with the excision of the ranula. These treatments showed a 25.0%, 36.4% and 0% recurrence rate, respectively. Histological observation revealed no epithelial lining in any of the examined specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removal of the sublingual gland combined with the ranula was the most reliable method among the above three used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naitoh
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011900:Ranula / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome