A case of peripheral osteoma of the mandibular condyle as the cause of mandibular dislocation *
The common clinical symptoms of a condylar osteoma are facial asymmetry and malocclusion. We report on a rare case of a peripheral osteoma of the mandibular condyle as the cause of mandibular dislocation. A 40-year-old man was referred to the Department of Oral Surgery for evaluation and treatment of anterior dislocation of the left condyle without any history of recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). His medical and dental history was non-contributory and the patient was not taking any medication. Clinical examination revealed the mandible deviated to the right with an open bite. A panoramic radiograph and 3D-CT scans of the TMJ disclosed the left condyle with a well-defined radiopaque mass to be displaced anterior to the articular tubercle. MRI of the left TMJ disclosed joint effusion in the superior articular cavity and a slight hypertrophic posterior band with a normal relationship between the anterior-displaced condyle and disk when the mouth was open. Manual reduction failed even under general anesthesia. On another day, a conservative condylectomy was performed under general anesthesia. The diagnosis of the resected mass was confirmed to be a peripheral osteoma. The patient did well postoperatively and there have been no clinical symptoms. (Accepted on December 14, 2009)
