"Out of the ordinary": A case report of osteoma of mandibular condyle

Abstract

Osteomas are relatively rare in the jaws. The causes of these lesions are unknown, although trauma, infection, and developmental abnormalities have been suggested as contributing factors. To the best of our knowledge, only 13 cases of osteomas of the condyle have been reported in literature. Here we report a rare case of osteoma of the right condyle in a 35-year-old male. The patient presented with inability to open the mouth since 15 years, with a history of trauma to the chin. He had facial asymmetry, deviation of the mandible to the unaffected side, and reduced mouth opening. Considering the patient′s history and clinical features, a provisional diagnosis of bony ankylosis was considered. This case highlights the importance of performing a detailed examination in patients presenting with limited mouth opening caused by uncommon conditions such as osteomas of the condyle.

Keywords

• Limited mouth opening
• mandibular condyle
• osteomas