Mucocele


A mucocele is the most common benign lesion of the salivary glands generally conceded to be of traumatic origin.
It is characterized by the pooling of mucus in a cavity due to the rupture of salivary ducts or acini.
It can occur in the lower lip, palate, cheeks, tongue and the floor of the mouth.

Examples

Superficial mucoceles can often be diagnosed by appearance and consistency alone. Sometimes, it is indicated to perform diagnostic imaging and/or needle biopsy.
On a CT scan, a mucocele is fairly homogenous, with an attenuation of about 10-18 Hounsfield units.