Mucocele — MFDS Part 1 MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — A trauma-related mucous extravasation phenomenon involving a minor salivary gland duct
A typical lower-lip mucocele is a mucous extravasation phenomenon caused by traumatic rupture of a minor salivary gland duct, commonly following lip biting. Mucin escapes into the surrounding connective tissue and becomes enclosed by granulation tissue; there is no epithelial lining, so it is a pseudocyst rather than a true cyst. An epithelial-lined retention or salivary duct cyst results from duct obstruction and is uncommon on the lower lip; it is not characteristically a lesion of the submandibular duct. Mucoceles are benign and are not malignant tumours, virus-induced polyps or bacterial abscesses.
Reference: Bucher C, et al. Oral retention and extravasation mucoceles of the minor salivary glands—more common than you might think! Swiss Dental Journal, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37272605/