Is mucocele a "true" cyst or a "pseudocyst"?
Mucocele is a clinical term that includes mucus extravasation phenomenon and mucus retention cyst.
An extravasation phenomenon is a tissue swelling that may occur as a result of pooling of mucus in the surrounding connective tissue, from a severed excretory duct.
A mucus retention cyst is a swelling manifesting as a result of obstruction of excretory duct due to a sialolith, resulting in accumulation of mucus in the duct. Occasionally it may also be caused to periductal scarring or an impinging tumor.
A retention cyst is lined by ductal epithelium, in contrast to an extravasation phenomenon that is not lined by epithelium.
💡Hence retention cyst is regarded as a true cyst and extravasation type, a pseudocyst.
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