Synovial osteochondromatosis accompanying an ossified articular disk in the temporomandibular joint: a case report

Abstract

A 51-year-old woman was referred for pain in the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the trismus. Conventional radiography showed a radiopaque area in the disk, which suggested calcification. At surgery, multiple, round-to-ovoid cartilagenous nodules were found in the joint cavity. Synovectomy and diskectomy were carried out via a pre-auricular incision to remove the nodules. Examination under light microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of synovial osteochondromatosis (SOC). The disk contained a large ossified mass. To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of SOC accompanied by ossification of a large part of the disk.