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Mucous cyst

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Mucocele; Mucous retention cyst; Ranula; Epulis

Symptoms:

A thin, fluid-filled sac appears on the inside of the lip. The sac is bluish and clear. It is painless, but bothersome.

The sac can also occur on the tongue, palate, inside the cheeks, the floor of the mouth, or around tongue or lip piercings.

Signs and tests:

Your doctor can usually diagnose a mucous cyst simply by looking at it.

References:

Maheu-Robert LF, Andrian E, Grenier D. Overview of complications secondary to tongue and lip piercings. J Can Dent Assoc. 2007; 73(4):327-331.

• Review Date: 7/17/2007
• Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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