Successful treatment of oral mucocele with sclerotherapy

A 32-year-old lady complained of a painless lesion over the lower lip for two months. The lesion used to repeatedly shrink with trauma and subsequently reform in three days. Examination revealed a pink, firm swelling measuring 1 × 0.7 cm on the lower labial mucosa [Figure 1a]. Correlating history with the clinical findings rendered the diagnosis of oral mucocele. Mucoceles are mucus-filled cavities arising from ruptured minor salivary glands or ducts that are often managed by excision or ablative procedures. Sclerotherapy, being a simple, minimally invasive, safe, efficacious, and cost-effective procedure, was recommended to our patient. Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (3% STS) diluted in a 1:3 ratio with distilled water was injected into the mucocele. There was a considerable reduction in size by day 4 [Figure 1b] and complete resolution with no signs of recurrence at two weeks [Figure 1c]. Adverse events, such as allergic reactions, pain, ulceration, scarring, and hyperpigmentation, were not experienced by our patient. Sclerotherapy using STS is a simple, effective, and minimally invasive day care procedure that can be safely used for treating mucocele. Around 0.5–1 mL of sclerosant is injected slowly into the mucocele, till it produces visible blanching.^[1] In case of inadequate response, sclerotherapy can be repeated weekly until complete resolution is achieved.

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Figure 1:

Mucocele over the lower lip at (a) baseline, (b) 4 days (black box), and (c) 2 weeks following sclerotherapy.

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