{{Short description|Distension with accumulation of mucus}} {{Medref|date=July 2018}} A '''mucocele''' is a distension of a hollow organ or cavity because of mucus buildup.

==By location==

===Oral=== {{Main|Oral mucocele}} Oral mucocele is the most common benign lesion of the salivary glands generally conceded to be of traumatic origin. It is characterized by the pooling of mucus in a cavity due to the rupture of salivary ducts or acini. It can occur in the lower lip, palate, cheeks, tongue and the floor of the mouth.

===Appendix=== Appendiceal mucocele is found in 0.3 to 0.7% of the appendectomies.<ref name="B.B.Jasuja2019">{{cite journal|last1=B.B.|first1=Sunil Kumar|last2=Jasuja|first2=Pranav|title=Appendiceal mucocele—A rare case report|journal=International Journal of Surgery Case Reports|volume=58|year=2019|pages=21–25|issn=2210-2612|doi=10.1016/j.ijscr.2019.04.008|pmid=30999148|pmc=6468153|doi-access=free}}<br>- [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International] license</ref> It is characterized by the dilation of the organ lumen with mucus accumulation.<ref name="B.B.Jasuja2019"/> Appendix mucocele may come as a consequence of obstructive or inflammatory processes, cystadenomas or cystadenocarcinomas. Its main complication is pseudomyxoma peritonei.<ref name="B.B.Jasuja2019"/>

<gallery> File:Gross pathology of mucocele of the appendix.jpg|Gross pathology of mucocele of the appendix File:Pie chart of histological types of mucocele of the appendix.jpg|Pie chart of histological types of mucocele of the appendix, with relative incidence </gallery>

===Other=== * Mucocele of the petrous apex * Mucocele of the paranasal sinuses * Gallbladder mucocele

==Diagnosis== Superficial mucoceles can often be diagnosed by appearance and consistency alone. Sometimes, it is indicated to perform diagnostic imaging and/or needle biopsy.{{cn|date=June 2018}}

On a CT scan, a mucocele is fairly homogenous, with an attenuation of about 10-18 Hounsfield units.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QmLNBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA152 page 152] in: {{cite book|title=Multi-Detector CT Imaging: Principles, Head, Neck, and Vascular Systems|author=Luca Saba and Jasjit S. Suri|isbn=9781439893845|publisher=CRC Press|year=2013}}</ref>

==See also== * Mucous retention cyst

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Conditions of the mucous membranes