Salivary gland mucocele

Salivary gland mucocele, also salivary mucocele and mucocele, is a benign lesion of the head and neck.

General

• Benign.
• Infected mucocele = mucopyocele.

Microscopic

Features:

• Granulation tissue-like and pseudocyst-like.
  • Granulation tissue-like:
    • Fibroblasts.
    • Small caliber blood vessels.
    • Histocytes.
    • Neutrophils.
  • Pseudocyst:
    • No epithelial lining.
    • Poorly circumscribed.
• Pale pink extracellular material (mucous) - key feature.
• +/-Granulomas.

DDx:

• Granulation tissue.
• Signet ring cell carcinoma - muciphages may mimic signet ring cells.

Images

• 

  Mucocele - low mag. (WC/KGH)

• 

  Mucocele - high mag. (WC/KGH)

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  Mucocele - low mag. (WC/Nephron)

• 

  Mucocele - high mag. (WC/Nephron)

www:

• Mucocele (dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu).

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LESION, LEFT LOWER LIP, EXCISION:
- BENIGN MUCOCELE.

Micro

The sections show a stratified squamous epithelium with a thin layer of parakeratosis, minor salivary glands, and a well-circumscribed cystic lesion.

The cystic lesion has a mildly fibrotic appearing wall, is lined by histiocytes intermixed with rare lymphocytes, and contains mucous and macrophages. No significant nuclear atypia is identified. Mitotic activity is not readily apparent.

See also

• Salivary gland.