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Computed tomographic features of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint with a few small calcified loose bodies

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Abstract

Objectives

The present study aimed to clarify the characteristic computed tomography (CT) features that indicate synovial chondromatosis (SC) with a few small calcified bodies or without calcification on panoramic images, and to discuss their differences from the features of temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Methods

Panoramic and CT images from 11 patients with histologically verified SC of the temporomandibular joint were investigated. Based on the panoramic images, the patients were classified into a distinct group (5 patients) with typical features of calcified loose bodies and an indistinct group (6 patients) without such bodies. On the CT images, findings for high-density structures suggesting calcified loose bodies, joint space widening, and bony changes in the articular eminence and glenoid fossa (eminence/fossa) and condyle were analyzed.

Results

All 5 distinct group patients showed high-density structures on CT images, while 2 of 6 indistinct group patients showed no high-density structures even on soft-tissue window CT images. A significant difference was found for the joint space distance between the affected and unaffected sides. A low-density area relative to the surrounding muscles, suggesting joint space widening, was observed on the affected side in 2 indistinct group patients. All 11 patients regardless of distinct or indistinct classification showed bony changes in the eminence/fossa with predominant findings of extended sclerosis and erosion.

Conclusion

Eminence/fossa osseous changes including extended sclerosis and erosion may be effective CT features for differentiating SC from TMD even when calcified loose bodies cannot be identified.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Alison Sherwin, PhD, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

The authors received no funding for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry, 2-11 Suemori-dori Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8651, Japan

    Masako Nishiyama, Michihito Nozawa, Yoshiko Ariji, Motoki Fukuda, Yoshitaka Kise, Munetaka Naitoh, Chiaki Kuwada & Eiichiro Ariji

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry, 2-11 Suemori-dori Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8651, Japan

    Nobumi Ogi & Kenichi Kurita

Authors
  1. Masako Nishiyama
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  2. Michihito Nozawa
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  3. Nobumi Ogi
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  4. Yoshiko Ariji
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  5. Motoki Fukuda
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  6. Yoshitaka Kise
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  7. Munetaka Naitoh
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  8. Chiaki Kuwada
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  9. Kenichi Kurita
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  10. Eiichiro Ariji
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michihito Nozawa.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in regard to the research described in this study.

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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions.

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Nishiyama, M., Nozawa, M., Ogi, N. et al. Computed tomographic features of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint with a few small calcified loose bodies. Oral Radiol 37, 236–244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-020-00438-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-020-00438-x

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