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.
AÂ 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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