Mucocele of the anterior lingual salivary glands (glands of Blandin and Nuhn): Report of 5 cases

The anterior lingual salivary glands (glands of Blandin and Nuhn) are mixed mucous and serous glands that are embedded within the musculature of the anterior tongue ventrum. Five cases of mucocele of the glands of Blandin and Nuhn are presented. These mucoceles on the anterior tongue ventrum were exophytic and resembled pyogenic granulomata, polyps, or squamous papillomata. In 2 cases, the onset of the mucocele was associated with trauma to the anterior tongue. All cases were mucus extravasation phenomena. A history of trauma and recovery of mucus with fine needle aspiration are helpful in the clinical diagnosis of mucocele of the glands of Blandin and Nuhn, as are the following characteristics of the mucocele: rapid onset, increase and reduction in size, bluish color, and fluid-filled consistency. During surgery, the glands that are deep in the tongue musculature are commonly left behind, resulting in persistence of the lesion. Careful clinical evaluation of these lesions and preoperative awareness of the surgical anatomy of the glands of Blandin and Nuhn may minimize the need for repeated surgical procedures.