#e-n-t

[dr-acidcute]

Retention cysts. These are common on the tonsil and appear as sessile yellow swellings (a). If small they can be ignored, and although symptoms are uncommon, a concern by the patient or a sensation of a lump in the throat may call for surgical removal. Retention cysts are also seen following tonsillectomy in the region of the fauces (b).

[dr-acidcute]

The ranula is a mucocele occurring in the floor of the mouth (a). A blue color and the profunda vein stretched across the surface are characteristic. This ranula may extend into the tissues of the floor of the mouth and neck (plunging ranula). Total surgical removal is difficult because of the thin wall, and  marsupialisation, as with the lip lesion is adequate treatment. Recurrence is not uncommon. The ranula may also present more in the floor of the mouth than on the undersurface of the tongue, and the diagnosis may not be so obvious. b A less welldefined  ranula occupying the floor of the mouth

[dr-acidcute]

Papilloma of the tongue. Benign lesions of the tongue are common, and are either sessile or  pedunculated (b). Simple excision under local anesthetic with biopsy is required

[dr-acidcute]

Hemangiomas of the tongue. These may be chance findings and are usually innocuous. If large and giving rise to bleeding, laser surgery is the most effective present treatment

[dr-acidcute]

A patient after tracheosteomy (with speaking valve).

[dr-acidcute]

Parotid salivary calculus. An ulcer in the region of the orifice of the parotid duct (a, arrow) suggests a possible salivary calculus. Parotid calculi are considerably less common than those in the sub-mandibular duct, but occasionally they may occlude the orifice of the duct, causing painful intermittent parotid swelling which requires incision and removal (b, c).

[dr-acidcute]

Aphthous ulcers