Inflammatory effusion of the temporomandibular joint with intracranial extension into the middle fossa: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Herein we report an unusual case of a 60-year-old female with headache and jaw pain found to have a peripherally enhancing subtemporal lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. The patient underwent craniotomy for resection of this extradural lesion. Pathology confirmed the lesion as benign cyst components. There were no complications during surgery and the patient remained neurologically intact. The subject's headaches resolved with marginally improved jaw pain. Follow-up imaging at two years after surgery showed no lesion or recurrence of effusion. The final diagnosis was an inflammatory effusion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that resulted in intracranial extension by erosion through the skull base. Surgical resection via temporal craniotomy proved to be a safe and effective means of diagnosis and treatment with good long-term results. Keywords: Temporomandibular joint, Subtemporal, Middle cranial fossa, Surgical procedures, Effusion