Papillary synovial metaplasia-like change in oral mucoceles: A retrospective institutional study of 105 cases

BACKGROUND: Mucoceles are mucus-filled cavities and are broadly of two types: mucus retention cysts and mucus extravasation phenomenon. A wide variety of histological features have been documented in the literature. The present study was an attempt to study these histological features: papillary synovial metaplasia-like changes (PSM-like changes) in particular. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and five tissue samples of mucoceles were retrieved and evaluated for age, gender, type, site, color, etiology, symptoms, dimension of the lesion and presence or absence of PSM-like changes. The results were documented on Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed by using SPSS. RESULTS: All 105 cases were of mucus extravasation phenomenon with a definitive male preponderance. The mean age of occurrence was 25.82 ± 11.65 years and a predilection for the lower lip. PSM-like changes were seen in 31 cases (Group II), and the remaining 74 cases did not show a definite presence of these features (Group I). The cases in Group II were statistically larger in dimension than Group I cases. No difference was noted in age, gender and laterality. CONCLUSION: PSM-like changes appear to be an underrecognized histological alteration seen in oral mucoceles and must be recognized to differentiate from other salivary gland entities showing papillary architecture.