Mucoceles of the oral cavity in neonates and infants--report of a case and literature review

Oral Cavity Mucocele and Different Surgical Treatment Strategies: Is Laser Excision Effective? A Scoping Review

Mucocele is a common lesion localized in the oral cavity; it originates from the lesion of a salivary duct and the consequent accumulation of mucin in soft tissues. It is a common lesion of young patients and is frequently associated with areas subject to traumas. Surgical treatment is needed especially if it reaches considerable dimensions, as it can cause discomfort in the patient and tends to increase in size if subjected to further traumatism. This scoping review aims to investigate which treatments are used for this type of lesion, which are the most suitable to prevent recurrence, and if laser-assisted surgery is considered more efficient than other methods. An electronic search was performed within the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus databases. Articles published in the years 2010 to 2023 were selected. Techniques like marsupialization and laser-assisted excision effectively treat mucoceles, with no clear prevalence between them. Laser surgery offers speed, precision, and minimal post-operation discomfort, but randomized trials are needed for conclusive comparisons.

Anomalies of the oral cavity in newborns

Examination of the oral cavity should be an essential part of the newborn assessment. Early detection of congenital disorders is essential to begin appropriate medical or surgical therapy and to prevent complications that could profoundly affect a child's life. The present review aims to describe the main anomalies of the oral cavity in infants and provide images in order to help the physician in current clinical practice.

Diode Laser-Assisted Surgical Therapy for Early Treatment of Oral Mucocele in a Newborn Patient: Case Report and Procedures Checklist

Mucocele (also known as ranula or salivary gland mucous cyst) of the newborn is a lesion present on the intraoral cavity, with the potential to interfere with respiration and feeding. In the present report, a case of mucocele in a 4-month female patient has been described. As conventional surgery can be followed by several complications such as intraoperative bleeding, difficulties in wound healing, and maintenance of sterility during surgery, in the present case, the use of diode laser has been planned. A topic anesthesia with lidocaine gel was performed. A diode laser (810 nm wavelength, continuous wave mode, power output of 3 watt, and 0.4 mm diameter fiber optic) was set for excising the lesion. The tip was directed at an angle of 10 to 15°, moving around the base of the lesion with a circular motion. The procedure was completed in 3 minutes. The patient was visited with a follow-up of 2 weeks and 4 months after excision. The intraoral wound healed without complications, and no signs of infection or mass recurrence were noted. The histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of mucocele. On the basis of the results of the present case report, the use of diode laser can be easily performed also in a noncompliant newborn patient for successful excision of mucocele lesions, and checklist of clinical procedures has been described.

A congenital mucocele of the anterior dorsal tongue

We report on a new-born with a congenital mucocele on the anterior dorsal side of the tongue. The presentation as well as the differential diagnosis of congenital oral swellings is discussed. Because of breastfeeding problems the mucinous swelling was incised and drained two days after birth. Immediately after drainage the swelling disappeared. Congenital oral swellings are rare. Most of them are mucoceles. Post-partum treatment is surgically, but spontaneous remission has been described. High incidence of recurrence should be taken into account when (micro-)marsupialization or incision as sole treatment is performed.