A clinicopathologic discussion on a case of asymptomatic swelling on the ventral tongue

Abstract

The tongue is a complex structure composed of muscles, nerve fibers, blood vessels, salivary glands, etc. A swelling on the ventral tongue can arise from any of these tissues. We report a case and clinicopathologic discussion of asymptomatic swelling on the ventral surface of the tongue in a 13-year-old female patient under orthodontic treatment, diagnosed as extravasation mucocele. Oral mucocele is a benign minor salivary gland lesion which occurs due to trauma or obstruction. Extravasation mucocele seen in this case resembles mucocele developing from the glands of Blandin and Nuhn. This article emphasizes the importance of clinicopathological correlation in diagnosing common lesions in uncommon locations.

Keywords

• minor salivary gland
• mucocele
• tongue