Mucocele: A diagnostic dilemma!!

Oral mucocele is the most common benign lesion of minor salivary gland caused due to any form of mechanical trauma to the excretory duct of the gland. It is of two types – mucous extravasation phenomenon and mucous retention type. Extravasation type is more common. Here, we report a case of a 65-year-old male patient with a complaint of painful swelling in the lower lip for 1 month with a history of trauma in the lower lip. It was clinically diagnosed as traumatic fibroma, and an excisional biopsy was done. However, the histopathology was basically that of mucous extravasation phenomenon coexisting with the features of a reactive lesion implicating the potential role of chronic irritation in the impairment of normal healing process. Considering the fact that long-standing chronic inflammation in a benign lesion can even lead to malignant transformation of that lesion; here, we highlight the role of a good clinicopathologic correlation and the significance of prompt intervention and treatment. Furthermore, emphasizing the potential need for postoperative follow-up by the dentist, how much ever trivial the lesion may appear to be in the best interest of the patient.