title: Mucocele of the hard palate in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucus retention cyst of the hard palate may result from obstruction of the ducts of the minor salivary glands, and it was defined as a mucocele. Although, the disease is not common in the hard palate, it was previously reported by many authors in the soft palate. The aim of our study was to present pediatric patients who were diagnosed to have mucocele of the hard palate, and to evaluate the outcome of the surgical excision of this lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case series study included 8 pediatric patients who presented with cystic lesions on the hard palate which were removed surgically, and were diagnosed as mucoceles. Preoperative data, surgical procedures, and postoperative outcome were presented. Follow up of patients was performed for at least one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The swelling was detected as a single isolated lesion, on the side of the hard palate, covered with healthy mucosa, not tender, oval or round in shape, and measuring 0.4 to 1.7cm in its greatest dimension. Computed tomography showed a well defined cavity which was not invading the bone, and not disrupting the muscles of the palate. Histopathological examination confirmed that the lesion was a cavity that is lined with an epithelial layer with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. No patients developed intraoperative or postoperative complications, and no recurrence was detected in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral mucoceles can develop on the hard palate of the children, the lesions are mucus retention cysts. Complete surgical removal of the lesions with their cystic wall is a good treatment options, it carries no risk of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: mosabeez@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mosaad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Badawy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khalifa
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdel-Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: El-Tahan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009078:Mucocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012008:Recurrence; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Hard palate; Mucus retention cyst; Oral mucocele; Palatal cysts