Antenatal detection of an intraglossal ranula on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cohen, Harris L.^{; ; ; ;} | Choudhri, Asim F.^{; ; ;} | Raju, Anand D.^; | Samson, Jacques^; | Mabry, Lisa M. | Thompson, Jerome W.

Affiliations: Department of Radiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA | Department of Radiology, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA | Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA | Department of Obstetrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA | Le Bonheur Fetal Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA | Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA | Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA | College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA | Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Harris Cohen, Department of Radiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: A lingual ranula is a rare cystic lesion of the tongue. Ranulas are typically sublingual mucoceles. We report perhaps the first lingual ranula identified in a fetus. It was identified by ultrasound and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Knowledge of the presence of such a large intraoral mass antenatally allows diagnosis, monitoring, assessment of potential airway compromise and delivery planning. The possibility of impending airway compromise caused the planning of an ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure performed at delivery. Identification of tongue tissue below a cystic intraoral mass suggests a lingual rather than a sublingual origin, a finding which helps stratify the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Ranula, fetal, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, tongue

DOI: 10.3233/PNR-14192

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neuroradiology, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 191-195, 2014