This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Balliu, E Articles by Pedraza, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Balliu, E Articles by Pedraza, S

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: CT and MRI findings

¹ Department of Radiology and Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge, Hospital de Girona, Dr Josep Trueta, Av França S/N Girona 17007, Spain; ² Department of Magnetic Resonance, Cl´nica Girona, Girona, Spain; ³ Department of Maxillofacial surgery, Hospital de Girona, Dr Josep Trueta, Av França S/N Girona-17007, Spain

*Correspondence to: E Balliu, MD, Hospital de Girona, Dr Josep Trueta (Radiology Department). Av. França S/N Girona – 17007, Spain; Email: 34876ebc{at}comb.es

Received 29 September 2005; revised 8 January 2006; accepted 1 February 2006

We report a rare case of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a 31-year-old man. CT examination showed a mixed soft tissue mass with small calcifications near the right TMJ joint space. MR images revealed a heterogeneous mass on the different sequences and, after contrast administration, originating in the right TMJ. Cytology showed chondroid cellularity. The lesion was surgically removed and final histological study demonstrated the diagnosis of a synovial chondromatosis. We highlight the importance of the complementary findings from CT and MR, especially the important specific feature described for TMJ synovial chondromatosis related to the mixed density within the mass, in order to perform an accurate preoperative diagnosis whenever there is an absence of ossified loose bodies.

Keywords: temporomandibular joint; calcification; condyle; computed tomography (CT); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)