Purpose: We present the intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with 606 procedures for ranulas in a series of 571 patients. Patients and Methods: Clinical records of 606 procedures in 571 patients with ranulas operated on in the Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China between 1962 and 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. The methods of surgery and intraoperative and postoperative complications were documented and analyzed. Results: The most common complications were recurrence of the lesion (5.78%) and sensory deficit of the tongue (4.89%), followed by damage of Wharton's duct (1.82%). Postoperative hematoma, infection, or dehiscence of the wound were seldom seen. Temporary numbness of the tongue resolved within 2 to 7 months postoperatively. Recurrences were often seen after marsupialization and excision of the ranula, with few recurrences after excision of the ranula and sublingual gland or excision of the sublingual gland alone. Conclusion: Complications associated with ranula surgery are minor and self-limiting. Transoral excision of the sublingual gland has the least possibility of ranula recurrence.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to report our experience in the surgical treatment of 484 Chinese patients with follow-up in 255 cases. Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted of all odontogenic keratocysts that were surgically treated and histopathologically diagnosed between 1962 and 1998. The odontogenic keratocysts were surgically treated with enucleation, marsupialization followed by secondary enucleation, and resection with or without continuity defects. The recurrence rate was evaluated for the patients followed more than 3 years. Results. Of a total of 489 odontogenic keratocysts, 327 (66.87%) were found in the mandible and 162 (33.13%) in the maxilla. Follow-up data were obtained in 255 patients. Recurrence was found in 31 cases (15.27%) in 203 patients treated with enucleation after an observation period of 3 to 29 years. Twenty-nine recurrences (17.79%) were found in 163 patients treated with enucleation alone, two recurrences (6.70%) were seen in 29 patients who received Carnoy's solution fixation of the cyst wall before enucleation, and no recurrence was found in 11 cases treated with marsupialization in combination with secondary enucleation. No recurrence was seen in 52 patients treated with resection. Conclusion. Odontogenic keratocysts treated with enucleation alone have a higher recurrence rate. Enucleation with adjunctive treatment can decrease recurrence rate. Radical excision has no recurrence but does have the highest morbidity rate and should be reserved for multiple recurrent cysts after conservative means.

Two hundred and sixty patients with oral and facial venous malformations received intralesional injections of either pingyangmycin, sodium morrhuate, or pingyangmycin alternating with sodium morrhuate. Results were rated excellent, good, fair, or poor, depending on clinical outcome. The prevalence of an "excellent" rating in the combined sclerotherapy group (82%) was higher than that in the pingyangmycin group (71%) and the sodium morrhuate group (61%). Swelling and pain following injection were commonly associated with the use of sodium morrhuate. Sclerotherapy with pingyangmycin or sodium morrhuate is an effective and safe treatment for oral and facial venous malformations. Alternate injection of pingyangmycin and sodium morrhuate appears to be more effective for venous malformations than using sclerosant alone.