Ranula: Experience With 83 Cases in Zimbabwe

Purpose

To document the clinical features, management, and outcome of ranulas in Zimbabwe.

Methods

A retrospective review of clinical and pathologic records of 83 patients with ranulas who presented during the period of January 1981 to September 2003 was undertaken.

Results

Thirty-six (43.4%) of the ranulas were in males and 47 (56.6%) in females. Sixty-one (73.5%) were in the 0 to 10-year-old age group. Oral ranulas (92.8%) were equally distributed on the right and left sublingual region. Six (7.2%) were plunging ranulas. In a study group of 38 patients, 88.5% of ranula patients were HIV-positive with 95% of them in the 0 to 10-year-old age groups. Excision of ranula with sublingual gland removal was done in 80.7% of the cases with 0% recurrence; marsupialization (cavity left open and cavity packed) was done in 12% (n = 10) of the patients with 20% (n = 2) recurrence.

Conclusions

Female predominance with no right or left sublingual region predilection was noted. Ranula was most common in the 0 to 10-year-old age group; 95% of this group were HIV positive. HIV salivary gland disease could be an etiologic factor. No recurrence was observed when the ranula was excised along with removal of the sublingual gland. Plunging ranula is uncommon.