Signs and symptoms - Size of oral mucoceles vary from 1mm to several centimeters - Mucoceles are slightly transparent with a blue tinge - Mucoceles may appear fluctuant on palpation, but can also be firm - Duration of mucoceles can last from days to years - Mucoceles may have recurrent swelling with occasional rupturing of its contents

Locations - Most common location for mucoceles is the inner surface of the lower lip - Mucoceles can also be found on the inner side of the cheek (buccal mucosa) - Other locations include the anterior ventral tongue and the floor of the mouth - Mucoceles found on the floor of the mouth are referred to as ranulas - Rarely found on the upper lip, but can occur in paranasal sinuses

Variations - Superficial mucoceles can be found on the palate, retromolar pad, and posterior buccal mucosa - Superficial mucoceles present as single or multiple vesicles that burst into an ulcer - Superficial mucoceles often recur in the same location - Other causes of bumps inside lips include aphthous ulcer, lipoma, benign tumors of salivary glands, submucous abscesses, and haemangiomas

Diagnosis - Microscopically, mucoceles appear as granulation tissue surrounding mucin - Inflammation usually accompanies mucoceles, with presence of neutrophils and foamy histiocytes - On a CT scan, mucoceles appear fairly homogenous with an attenuation of about 10-18 Hounsfield units - Mucoceles are classified as salivary gland disorders - Histopathologic examination can confirm the diagnosis of mucocele

Treatment - Some mucoceles spontaneously resolve on their own - Chronic mucoceles may require surgical removal - Adjacent salivary gland may be excised as a preventive measure to reduce recurrence - Surgical removal procedures include laser and minimally invasive techniques - Micromarsupialization is an alternative procedure that uses silk sutures to create new drainage pathways