Common causes of 'swelling' in the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND: Conditions that present as a 'swelling' in the oral cavity are relatively common, and patients may seek initial assessment from their general practitioners. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of common causes of a 'swelling' in the oral cavity to help with formulating a differential diagnosis and stratifying the urgency of referral. DISCUSSION: Pathological conditions in the oral cavity (excluding mucosal presentations) may present as a swelling in the submucosa or jaws, symptoms related to teeth and/or gums or an incidental finding on imaging. In this review, the authors outline the most common submucosal or jaw swellings, organised according to their clinical presentations, and describe their typical appearance and management.

Mucocele de cavidades paranasales / Sinus mucocele

Los mucoceles son quistes expansivos e indolentes de las cavidades paranasales. A pesar de ser lesiones benignas, tienen potencial destructivo local por su expansión crónica y cambios óseos. Su ubicación más frecuente es frontoetmoidal. Se postula que su origen es por alteración de la vía de drenaje de los senos. La clínica es dependiente de su ubicación: los mucoceles frontoetmoidales presentan aumento de volumen, cefalea o proptosis. Las imágenes juegan un rol importante en el diagnóstico, siendo la tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética los exámenes que detectan patrones sugerentes de mucoceles. El tratamiento es quirúrgico, donde el abordaje endoscópico ha desplazado al abierto por ser mínimamente invasivo, presentar menos comorbilidades y tener menor tasa de recurrencia.

Mucoceles are expansive and indolent cyst of the paranasal cavities. Despite being benign lesions, they have local destructive potential because of its chronic expansion and bony changes. Its most common location is frontoethmoidal. Alterations in the drainage pathway of sinus is thought to be the origin of mucoceles. The clinical features depend on the location. Frontoethmoidal often presents frontal swelling, headache or proptosis. Imaging plays an important part of diagnosis. Tomography and magnetic resonance have patterns that can suggest the presence of a mucocele. Paranasal sinus mucoceles are primarily treated surgically. The endoscopic surgical management has replaced the open resection because of its minimally invasive treatment, less morbidity and low recurrence rates.

A 10-year study of the etiopathogenesis of cysts with a study of seromucinous glands in vocal folds.

OBJECTIVE: An increasing number of vocal fold cysts excised, as compared to polyps, over the last decade led us to review these cases. We found a statistically significant increase in cysts excised as compared to polyps, over the latter 5-year period (2013-2017). This prompted us to analyze possible factors responsible for this increase. We also performed a histological study of the normative distribution pattern of seromucinous glands in the apparently normal vocal folds. METHODS: A retrospective review of all cysts and polyps excised over a 10-year period was performed. Patient demographics, air-pollution levels, videostroboscopic findings and histologic analysis of pathology were reviewed. Findings were compared between the initial and latter 5-year period of all cysts excised. The second part of the study entailed a histological study of the presence and distribution pattern of seromucinous glands in 40 apparently normal fresh frozen cadaver vocal folds. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (P = .035) increase of mucous retention cysts excised as compared to polyps over the latter 5-year period. Decreased laryngeal hydration was a significant associated finding in cysts excised over the decade as compared to polyps. Striking zone lesions, suggestive of vocal abuse, were seen in a majority of patients of both polyps and cysts excised over the decade. Air pollution had significantly increased in India over the latter 5-year period. Vocal fold histology in cadavers revealed a presence of seromucinous glands in 32.50% (13/40) with 25.00% (10/40) present in the Superficial Lamina Propria (SLP). CONCLUSION: Decreased laryngeal hydration, vocal abuse and mucous glands present in the SLP may be predisposing factors towards mucous retention cyst formation. An increase in number of these cysts excised over the latter 5-year period was seen as was increased air pollution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b for the first part of study and NA for the second part of the study Laryngoscope, 130:986-991, 2020.

Mucocele: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in 46 Operated Patients

Abstract Introduction Paranasal sinus mucocele is a benign, expansive lesion associated with paranasal sinus obstruction. It affectsmostly adults, and ismost common in the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses. Objective To evaluate outcomes in patients undergoing surgical treatment for paranasal sinus mucocele. Methods Retrospective review of medical records of patients treated for paranasal sinus mucocele at the ENT department of a tertiary care hospital between 2005 and 2016. Results Forty-six patients underwent surgical treatment of paranasal sinusmucocele. Themean age was 50.1 years, and 56.5% were male. The most prevalent symptom was pain, and the frontal sinus was most commonly affected. The vast majority of patients (89.1%) underwent endoscopic sinusmarsupialization; 10.9% required combined open and endoscopic access. Seven recurrences occurred. Conclusion Sinus mucocele is an expansive disease that primarily affects the frontal sinus of adult patients. In most cases, endoscopic surgery is an effective treatment modality. (AU)

Investigation of adrenal and thyroid gland dysfunction in dogs with ultrasonographic diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele formation.

Gallbladder mucocele formation is an emerging disease in dogs characterized by increased secretion of condensed granules of gel-forming mucin by the gallbladder epithelium and formation of an abnormally thick mucus that can culminate in obstruction of the bile duct or rupture of the gallbladder. The disease is associated with a high morbidity and mortality and its pathogenesis is unknown. Affected dogs have a significantly increased likelihood of concurrent diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia. Whether these endocrinopathies represent coincidental primary disease processes that exacerbate gallbladder mucocele formation in predisposed dogs or reflect a concurrent disruption of endocrine and lipid metabolism is unclear. In this study, we investigated a hypothesis that dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation would have a high prevalence of occult and atypical abnormalities in adrenal cortical and thyroid gland function that would suggest the presence of endocrine disruption and provide deeper insight into disease pathogenesis. We performed a case-control study of dogs with and without ultrasonographic diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele formation and profiled adrenal cortical function using a quantitative mass spectrometry-based assay of serum adrenal-origin steroids before and after administration of synthetic cosyntropin. We simultaneously profiled serum thyroid hormone concentrations and evaluated iodine sufficiency by measurement of urine iodine:creatinine ratios (UICR). The studies were complemented by histological examination of archival thyroid tissue and measurements of thyroid gland organic iodine from dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation and control dogs. Dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation demonstrated an exaggerated cortisol response to adrenal stimulation with cosyntropin. A prevalence of 10% of dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation met laboratory-based criteria for suspect or definitive diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism. A significantly greater number of dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation had basal serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) increases compared to control dogs. A high percentage of dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation (26%) met laboratory-based criteria for diagnosis of hypothyroidism, but lacked detection of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation had significantly higher UICRs than control dogs. Examination of thyroid tissue from an unrelated group of dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation did not demonstrate histological evidence of thyroiditis or significant differences in content of organic iodine. These findings suggest that dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation have a greater capacity for cortisol synthesis and pinpoint DHEAS elevations as a potential clue to the underlying pathogenesis of the disease. A high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction with absent evidence for autoimmune thyroiditis suggest a disrupted thyroid hormone metabolism in dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation although an influence of non-thyroidal illness cannot be excluded. High UICR in dogs with gallbladder mucocele formation is of undetermined significance, but of interest for further study.

Mucocele formation after frontal sinus obliteration.

BACKGROUND: A possible complication of frontal sinus obliteration with fat is the formation of mucoceles. We studied the prevalence of mucoceles as well as and the need for revision surgery. METHODS: Retrospective case review of forty consecutive patients undergoing frontal sinus obliteration from September 1995 to February 2012 for chronic rhinosinusitis (26), frontal mucocele (12) or frontal osteoma (2) with an average follow up of 80 months (range 15-218). MRI of the paranasal sinuses was performed in all. Outcome measures included MRI signs of mucocele formation in the obliterated frontal sinus, revision surgery, symptom burden. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed potential postoperative frontal sinus mucoceles in 6/40 patients. In 3 patients (7.5%) a revision operation was performed, revealing mucoceles in two cases. A wait and scan-policy in the other 3 patients confirmed the presence of a mucocele in 1 of these patients. The majority of patients (33/40, 83%) was asymptomatic at the last follow up. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mucoceles and revision rate in this series was 7.5% (3/40). MRI can improve detection rate and reduce / avoid unnecessary revision surgery after frontal sinus obliteration.

[The surgical treatment of pyocele of the frontal sinus]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie piotsele lobnoi pazukhi.

The authors describe a clinical case of pyocele of the frontal sinus in the patient presenting with polypous pansinisitis and pronouncd hypertrophy of the frontal sinuses with special reference to the specific features of diagnostics and surgical strategy for the treatment of this condition.

The Medial Femoral Condyle Corticoperiosteal Free Flap for Frontal Sinus Reconstruction.

Although the medial femoral condyle has been used for reconstruction in various areas of the body, to the authors' knowledge it has not been used for frontal sinus reconstruction. The authors describe a novel approach to a complex patient using the medial femoral condyle cortiocoperiosteal free flap to reconstruct an anterior frontal sinus defect in conjunction with a recalcitrant mucocele.

Bile acid composition of gallbladder contents in dogs with gallbladder mucocele and biliary sludge.

OBJECTIVE To examine bile acid composition of gallbladder contents in dogs with gallbladder mucocele and biliary sludge. ANIMALS 18 dogs with gallbladder mucocele (GBM group), 8 dogs with immobile biliary sludge (i-BS group), 17 dogs with mobile biliary sludge (m-BS group), and 14 healthy dogs (control group). PROCEDURES Samples of gallbladder contents were obtained by use of percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis or during cholecystectomy or necropsy. Concentrations of 15 bile acids were determined by use of highperformance liquid chromatography, and a bile acid compositional ratio was calculated for each group. RESULTS Concentrations of most bile acids in the GBM group were significantly lower than those in the control and m-BS groups. Compositional ratio of taurodeoxycholic acid, which is 1 of 3 major bile acids in dogs, was significantly lower in the GBM and i-BS groups, compared with ratios for the control and m-BS groups. The compositional ratio of taurocholic acid was significantly higher and that of taurochenodeoxycholic acid significantly lower in the i-BS group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this study, concentrations and fractions of bile acids in gallbladder contents were significantly different in dogs with gallbladder mucocele or immobile biliary sludge, compared with results for healthy control dogs. Studies are needed to determine whether changes in bile acid composition are primary or secondary events of gallbladder abnormalities.

Clinical Relationship between Cholestatic Disease and Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism in Dogs: A Retrospective Case Series.

BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of cholestatic disease, including gallbladder mucocele (GBM), has been reported in dogs with naturally occurring pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Differences exist in the clinical features of dogs with PDH and concurrent cholestatic disease, and also is the management of these dogs with trilostane. ANIMALS: Sixty-five client-owned dogs with naturally occurring PDH. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational case series. Each dog was treated with trilostane for at least 3 months before the study, and had a good clinical response, as determined by owners. Statistical comparisons of clinical signs, results of routine blood tests, basal and post-ACTH cortisol concentration, and optimal trilostane dosage were made after dogs were separated into the following 3 groups by ultrasonographic imaging: normal on ultrasound (NOU) group, cholestasis group, and GBM group. RESULTS: The GBM group had more severe clinical signs and significantly different total serum cholesterol concentration and post-ACTH stimulation cortisol concentration at the time of diagnosis. Dogs that weighed <6 kg had a significantly higher prevalence of cholestatic disease than did the other dogs (P = .003). The optimal trilostane dosages for the GBM and cholestasis groups were 2.5 and 1.5 times the dosage of the NOU group, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Gallbladder disease associated with cholestatic disease is correlated with PDH in dogs, in both its clinical features and drug management. These findings may be associated with hypercholesterolemia, unidentified genetic factors, and the hydrophobic nature of trilostane.

A Large Laryngeal Mucocele Causing Progressive upper Airway Obstruction and Cervical Swelling.

Laryngocele (LC) is an uncommon clinical entity, occasionally associated with fatal complications. If its neck becomes obstructed, mucous accumulates and then a laryngeal mucocele (LMC) is formed. Reports of LMCs are rare in the literature. A fluid-filled combined LMC in a 48 year-old Greek construction worker with presenting symptoms of cervical swelling and dysphonia is described. The male patient was surgically treated via an external approach. A LC rarely becomes symptomatic and infection unusually occurs. Magnetic resonance imaging depicts in detail the size, extension and structure of the neck mass and remains the diagnostic gold standard, providing superior soft-tissue discrimination, in cases of a concurrent laryngeal tumor. Histopathological examination confirms diagnosis, since there is always a high index of suspicion for malignancy. Established guidelines regarding surgical treatment of a LC do not exist. Although during the last two decades micro laryngoscopy with CO2 laser has gained popularity for the treatment of an internal LC, the external approach still remains the method of choice in cases of a combined LMC.

Total dorsal capsulectomy for the treatment of mucous cysts.

PURPOSE: To describe the technique of total dorsal capsulectomy alone for mucous cysts of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and evaluate its outcomes and complications. METHODS: Nineteen patients (18 women and 1 man) with 19 mucous cysts were treated by a total dorsal capsulectomy without cyst excision or osteophyte removal. The average age at surgery was 63 years. The thumb was involved in 4 patients, index finger in 1, middle finger in 7, ring finger in 4, and little finger in 3. Twelve patients had nail deformities associated with the mucous cyst. The average period of postoperative follow-up was 26 months. The dorsal half of the DIP joint capsule was resected with a punch and curette. The cyst and osteophytes were left intact. RESULTS: The average preoperative range of motion for the DIP joint was from 10° of extension to 45° of flexion. Radiographs showed osteophytes at the DIP joint in all affected digits. After surgery, all cysts disappeared at an average of 3 weeks. There was no recurrence at the time of final follow-up. All nail deformities had resolved at an average of 5 months after surgery. The average motion for the DIP joint at the time of final follow-up was from 8° of extension to 56° of flexion. There were no acquired nail deformities or other complications. CONCLUSIONS: A total dorsal capsulectomy alone was a simple treatment for mucous cysts and did not lead to any recurrence. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Isolated pyocele of anterior clinoid process presenting as a cavernous sinus syndrome.

A 37-year-old man presented with fever, decreased vision in the left eye, a partial left cranial nerve III paresis, and a left cranial nerve VI paresis. Neuro-imaging showed an opacification of a left pneumatised anterior clinoid process. After failing a course of intravenous antibiotics, a craniotomy was performed with exenteration of the cavity and resolution of symptoms. Although rare, a pyocele of a pneumatised anterior clinoid process may cause ocular morbidity and require surgical intervention.

Decreased gallbladder emptying in dogs with biliary sludge or gallbladder mucocele.

Biliary sludge in dogs is dismissed commonly as an incidental finding. On the other hand, gallbladder mucocele is reported increasingly in dogs and can lead to biliary obstruction or gallbladder rupture. Cholestasis is suspected to play a role in development of sludge and mucoceles, though there are no data in dogs to support this. We investigated gallbladder emptying, a key factor in biliary flow, in dogs with mobile sludge, immobile sludge, or gallbladder mucocele and in healthy controls. Gallbladder ejection fraction estimated by ultrasonography was used as the index of gallbladder emptying. The ejection fraction at 60 min after eating was significantly decreased in all three abnormal groups. Moreover, all dogs with sludge or a mucocele had gallbladder distension. These changes were the greatest in the mucocele group. Thus, biliary stasis occurs not only in dogs with gallbladder mucocele but also in dogs with biliary sludge. Cholestasis may play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of these diseases in dogs.

Paranasal sinus mucoceles with ophthalmologic manifestations: a 17-year review of 96 cases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of paranasal sinus mucoceles with ophthalmologic manifestations with a focus on optic neuropathy. METHODS: From January 1993 to May 2010, 96 consecutive patients diagnosed with paranasal sinus mucoceles with ophthalmologic manifestations were investigated. Clinical and therapeutic factors and demographics were reviewed from medical records. Statistical associations between clinical and therapeutic factors and visual outcomes after surgery were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients were diagnosed with paranasal sinus mucoceles and underwent surgical treatment. Ninety-six of them presented with ophthalmologic symptoms, and periorbital swelling and pain were the most common symptoms (36.4%) in those patients. Among the 96 patients with ophthalmologic manifestations, 18 (18.8%) were diagnosed with optic neuropathy based on the deterioration of their visual acuity and unilateral relative afferent papillary defect. Ten of these 18 patients showed improvements in their vision after surgical intervention. The statistical analysis of the association between clinical and therapeutic factors and visual outcomes showed that the presence of infection was the only significant factor (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Paranasal sinus mucoceles present various ophthalmologic manifestations. Among them, optic neuropathy may be one of the most devastating conditions. In treating optic neuropathy caused by mucoceles, the presence of infection was the only factor that had any influence on postoperative visual outcomes. Therefore, we conclude that not only surgical drainage and ventilation of the sinus are necessary, but infection control is also a vital factor in treating mucoceles with optic neuropathy.

Chronic dacryocystitis with spontaneous resolution of sac mucocele: fact or fiction.

The purpose of this study is to highlight the rare possibility of spontaneous resolution of a lacrimal sac mucocele by means of a retrospective case note analysis. The authors identified 3 patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction and clinical and radiological evidence of mucocele. In all 3 cases, resolution of symptoms was reported prior to dacryocystorhinostomy. In each case, the mucocele was no longer palpable, and the patency of the nasolacrimal duct was confirmed by sac washout. A lacrimal sac mucocele may rarely rupture in the nose and resolve spontaneously. Although this is a rare outcome, lacrimal surgeons should be aware of this prospect to avoid unnecessary surgery and investigations. The authors recommend that lacrimal surgeons present spontaneous resolution as one of the possible outcomes in their patient information literature.

Mucocele: a human model for lymphangiogenesis.

The mechanism of lymphangiogenesis is poorly understood, and controversy exists whether it is part of the inflammatory response to tissue injury. Utilizing markers specific to lymphatics, we aimed to study if lymphangiogenesis plays a role in the tissue response of mucoceles. Twenty-three extravasated mucoceles were selected. They were grouped by using widely accepted histologic criteria of wound healing into early-, intermediate-, and late-phase lesions. To identify lymphatic vessels we used lymphatic endothelium-specific antibodies (VEGFR3, Prospero-related homeobox gene-1 [Prox-1], and D2-40). To assess the proportion of lymphatic channels to all lesional vessels we used the panendothelial marker CD31. The presence, distribution, and proportion of lymphatic channels were assessed and compared among the groups. To investigate the involvement of lymphangiogenic signals, the expression of VEGFC was determined. To assess for proliferative activity of lymphatic endothelial cells we utilized Ki-67 antibody. Early-phase lesions (n = 6) were characterized by the presence of centrally located mucicarmine-positive material (mucin pools) with numerous inflammatory cells dominated by mucin-laden CD163-positive macrophages. Only scattered peripheral thin-walled large and small vessels were seen in the stroma surrounding the central mucin pool. Less than half of these vessels were of lymphatic nature as determined by Prox-1, VEGFR3, and D2-40 positivity. The histology of the intermediate-phase lesions (n = 6) was dominated by numerous lymphatics of varying size, not seen in the early phase. The histology of late-phase lesions (n = 11) resembled a "pseudo-cyst," with dense granulation tissue containing rare macrophages and rare lymphatic vessels. Although VEGFC was present in all phases, the highest expression was in the early phase. Low-grade proliferative lymphatic endothelium was noted in the intermediate lesions with a Ki-67 index of 4%. Early lymphangiogenesis and late lymphatic vessel regression were observed during mucocele evolution. The abundant newly formed ectatic lymphatic vessels seen in the intermediate phase may play a role in the clearance of extravasated material (mucin, edema, and lymph fluid) and in the initiation of the young fibroblast-rich granulation tissue. Mucocele appears to be an excellent human model for studying the factors that play a role in new lymphangiogenesis and regression.

Frontal sinus pneumocoele: a rare cause of orbital emphysema.

Sudden onset nonaxial proptosis and diplopia is alarming and orbital haemorrhage or a rapidly expanding orbital tumour should be excluded. We present a case of a young man aged 15 years who attended the Accident and Emergency Department with a 6-h history of sudden onset proptosis and diplopia in whom the aetiology was orbital emphysema.