Prevalence of the pneumatized articular eminence in the temporal bone.
OBJECTIVE
The pneumatized articular eminence (PAT) of the temporal bone has been identified as an asymptomatic radiolucent appearance defect in the temporal bone. Although it occurs very rarely, when present, it may represent the potential for complications following surgical manipulation of the temporomandibular joint.


METHODS
The record of 8107 patients who presented to our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery services, between January 1998 and February 2008 was reviewed. Observations were made on the side and radiographic appearance of the PAT; and sex and age of patients.


RESULTS
Eighty-three of 8107 (1.03%) individuals had PAT with 41 females and 42 males. PATs were located on the right side in 60 individuals and in the left side in 50 individuals. PATs were unilateral in 56 cases and bilateral in 27 (totally 110 PAT). Forty-four of the PATs were unilocular type, and 66 of the PATs were multilocular type.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of PAT is unnecessary. However if a surgeon who is planning to perform eminoplasty or eminectomy on a patient who has PAT, he/she should be aware of the details of PAT. Moreover, fractures of the temporal bone with PAT can occur easier than temporal bone without PAT.
Yavuz
Muhammed Selim
MS
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Aras
Mutan Hamdi
MH
Güngör
Hasan
H
Büyükkurt
Mustafa Cemil
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015050:Zygoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*