Cancellous osteoma of temporomandibular joint

Abstract

Osteoma is a rare growth of bone, benign in nature, usually occurring in the craniofacial region. It usually results from the long-term deposition of compact and cancellous bone. The etiology of the tumor is not clear but can be linked with infections, inflammatory processes trauma, or/and abnormalities in growth. It manifests with symptoms of painful/painless swelling, dull pain in the preauricular region, clicking/popping and difficulty in mastication, trismus, gradual midline shift developing malocclusion, mandibular deviation of the contralateral side, and facial asymmetry. The diagnosis is mostly made by clinical and radiological imaging and is affirmed by histopathological examination. These condylar tumors have been usually treated by either resection through local excision or condylectomy with or without reconstruction. Therefore, we describe a rare case report of osteoma arising from the mandibular condylar neck of a 26-year-old female patient giving a chief complaint of difficulty in opening the mouth in the last 15 days along with pain. Radiographic images and computed tomography were suggestive of osteochondroma involving right condyle which, on excision and histopathological examination, was found to be cancellous osteoma.

Keywords

• benign tumor
• osteoma
• temporomandibular joint