Oral mucocele

Mucous cyst of the oral mucocele
A mucocele on the lower lip.
SpecialtyOral and maxillofacial surgery 

Oral mucocele (also mucous extravasation cyst, mucous cyst of the oral mucosa, and mucous retention and extravasation phenomena) is a condition caused by two related phenomena - mucus extravasation phenomenon and mucous retention cyst.

Mucous extravasation phenomenon is a swelling of connective tissue consisting of a collection of fluid called mucus. This occurs because of a ruptured salivary gland duct usually caused by local trauma (damage) in the case of mucous extravasation phenomenon and an obstructed or ruptured salivary duct in the case of a mucus retention cyst. The mucocele has a bluish, translucent color, and is more commonly found in children and young adults.

Although these lesions are often called cysts, mucoceles are not true cysts because they have no epithelial lining. Rather, they are polyps.

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