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Background: Oral mucocele is the most common benign minor (accessory) salivary gland lesion, caused due to mechanical trauma to the excretory duct of the gland. Clinically they are characterized by single or multiple, soft, fluctuant nodule, ranging from the normal color of the oral mucosa to deep blue. It affects at any age and is equally present in both sexes with highest incidence in second decade of life. They are classified as extravasation or retention type. Objectives: To analyze the data between 2010 and 2011 of, clinically and histopathologically diagnosed 58 oral mucoceles for age, gender, type, site, color, cause, symptoms and dimension. Results: Oral mucoceles were highly prevalent in the age group of 15-24 years, were seen in 51.72% of males and 48.28% of females, with a ratio of 1.07:1. The extravasation type (84.48%) was more common than the retention type (15.52%). The most common affected site was lower lip (36.20%) followed by ventral surface of the tongue (25.86%). The lowest frequency was observed in floor of mouth, upper lip and palate. The maximum numbers of mucoceles were asymptomatic (58.62%), and the color of the overlying mucosa had color of adjacent normal mucosa (48.28%). It was also observed that most of the mucoceles had diameter ranging from 5 to 14 mm. The causative factors of the lesion were lip biting (22.41%), trauma (5.18%) and numerous lesions (72.41%). Conclusion: Oral Mucoceles are frequently seen in an oral medicine service, mainly affecting young people and lower lip, measuring around 5 to 14 mm and the extravasation type being the most common.

Recent data obtained on rats suggest that in the days immediately following birth several events take place in the circumvallate papillae of the oral cavity. A phylogenetically primitive system of solitary chemosensory cells develops and is rapidly replaced by taste buds. The lipase-secreting von Ebner gland, which is associated with taste organs, begins to develop by forming short tubules. The intrinsic nervous system of the gustatory organs rapidly completes its maturation showing fast proliferation of fibers and immunocytochemical maturation. Intraepithelial lipid accumulation is visible in the non-receptorial mucosa of the tongue, showing aspects which suggest an active lipid secretion. These data demonstrate that in the rat the structure of the sensory-secretory organs of the newborn’s tongue shows a typical conformation with respect to the adult and rapidly changes its organization in the first week after the birth. At the present level of knowledge, it is difficult to link the anatomical structures to peculiar functional roles but the rather simple organization of the neonatal gustatory epithelium could be in relation to the dietary regimen. The data obtained in laboratory animals underline the necessity of studies on human newborns to update the anatomical knowledge of the oral chemoceptive system.

平成19年度