What Causes A Lump On The Tongue And Irritation In The Oral Cavity?
Question: Hello - I sent this in last week and had a good response from Dr Ivo Ditah in this forum. Who concurred with my Dr.
I Just can't find the response, so I will resend
I irritated my frenulum, and then found a lump in tongue.
A denist friend felt it and described it as briney, 2cm and encaspsulated.
I went to my Dr. Who an internal medicine specialist. He looked and checked all of my lymph nodes and said " its not cancer" he said it was like a "cyst"
He told me to come back in three months
Any suggestions on what it could be?
I am doing salt rinses 4x per day.
I Just can't find the response, so I will resend
I irritated my frenulum, and then found a lump in tongue.
A denist friend felt it and described it as briney, 2cm and encaspsulated.
I went to my Dr. Who an internal medicine specialist. He looked and checked all of my lymph nodes and said " its not cancer" he said it was like a "cyst"
He told me to come back in three months
Any suggestions on what it could be?
I am doing salt rinses 4x per day.
Brief Answer:
Ranula or submandibular salivary duct obstruction.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The swelling in the image is a Ranula (mucous retention cyst).
2. Get an Ultrasound (USG) to check if it is deeper (Plunging Ranula) or if the swelling involves the submandibular salivary duct (Wharton's Duct).
3. Small cysts do not require treatment. Theses can be drained if symptomatic or growing. Marsupialisation and biopsy is usually performed. Salivary duct problems may require further treatment.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Ranula or submandibular salivary duct obstruction.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The swelling in the image is a Ranula (mucous retention cyst).
2. Get an Ultrasound (USG) to check if it is deeper (Plunging Ranula) or if the swelling involves the submandibular salivary duct (Wharton's Duct).
3. Small cysts do not require treatment. Theses can be drained if symptomatic or growing. Marsupialisation and biopsy is usually performed. Salivary duct problems may require further treatment.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thanks. Should I continue with the salt rinses? Is there anything else that I should try? Vitamins etc? Sometimes it is easier to see, such as in the photo, and sometimes it is not as light colored. It is uncomfortable when if I squeeze it .
Brief Answer:
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. There is no harm in continuing the salt gargles or starting vitamins, though these are not expected to alter the condition.
2. The tongue and floor of mouth are muscular structures and hence the appearance of the ranula/ cyst will change as per the force and pressure exerted.
3. Avoid squeezing it as this will increase the internal trauma.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. There is no harm in continuing the salt gargles or starting vitamins, though these are not expected to alter the condition.
2. The tongue and floor of mouth are muscular structures and hence the appearance of the ranula/ cyst will change as per the force and pressure exerted.
3. Avoid squeezing it as this will increase the internal trauma.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok. Thanks.
So at the end of the day, should I expect this thing to continue to change and grow? Or at some point, will it stop?
Tx
So at the end of the day, should I expect this thing to continue to change and grow? Or at some point, will it stop?
Tx
Brief Answer:
Slow growth is expected.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Slow growth is expected in a retention cyst / ranula.
2. Sudden increase in size can be due to trauma or bleeding within the cyst / ranula. Imaging and biopsy is recommended in such a situation.
3. You can wait and watch in most cases.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Slow growth is expected.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Slow growth is expected in a retention cyst / ranula.
2. Sudden increase in size can be due to trauma or bleeding within the cyst / ranula. Imaging and biopsy is recommended in such a situation.
3. You can wait and watch in most cases.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar