Retention cysts are thin, painless cysts that contain clear fluid and can grow on the inside of the lips, cheeks, tongue, or roof of the mouth. They can be caused by sucking lip membranes between teeth and may need to be removed by a healthcare professional. Mucoceles are related to retention cysts and can grow in sinuses, causing symptoms such as headache and facial pain. They can be diagnosed through tests such as CT scans or MRIs and may need to be drained or surgically removed.
A retention cyst, or mucous cyst, is a thin cyst that contains a clear fluid and grows on the inside of the lips. This type of cyst is usually painless and may have a bluish color. A retention cyst can also develop on the floor of a person’s mouth, as well as inside the cheeks, tongue, or roof of mouth. People with lip or tongue piercings may notice this type of cyst around a pierced area.
Retention cysts can grow after an individual sucks the lip membranes between their teeth. In some cases, these cysts develop into a permanent bump on the inside of the lips. Doctors often diagnose a cyst after visually examining the growths inside the patient’s mouth. A mucous cyst on the floor of the mouth may be called a ranula, and a cyst on the gums may be referred to as an epulis.
In many cases, a retention cyst goes away without treatment. Recurring cysts often need to be removed by a healthcare professional. A doctor, dentist, or oral surgeon can open the top of a cyst with a sterile needle to drain it, or they can surgically remove the growth.
Not all mouth ulcers are retention cysts. Cold sores can grow on the lips or inside the mouth due to a virus. White spots growing inside the mouth could be from a yeast infection known as thrush. Leukoplakia is a disease that causes an overgrowth of cells inside the mouth which can appear as white patches.
A mucocele is related to a retention cyst and typically grows in the sinuses. This type of cyst is a lesion that develops in sinus passages that are engorged with mucus. Mucoceles are accumulations of trapped mucus and in some cases can become infected. Doctors often use tests such as a computed tomography or CT scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose a mucocele.
People with previous surgery or facial trauma may have an increased risk of developing mucoceles. Some individuals with inflammatory diseases or allergies are more likely to have a mucocele growing inside their sinuses. This type of cyst can develop in men or women of any age.
In some cases, mucoceles cause headache, facial pain, or nasal obstruction. More serious symptoms, such as vision loss and facial deformities, can occur with this type of cyst. The sinuses can expand due to excessive pressure that the mucoceles exert within the sinuses. Doctors can treat mucoceles by draining them or surgically removing them.
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