The frequency of bifid mandibular condyle in a Turkish patient population.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and pattern of bifid mandibular condyles (BMCs).


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs from 10 200 patients undergoing dental treatment in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Erzurum, Turkey) between 1996 and 2008.


RESULTS
Of the 10 200 patients, 32 (0.3%) had BMCs, of whom 17 were female (53.1%) and 15 were male (46.9%). The age range of the patients with BMCs was 5 to 71 years (mean age 30.0+/-0.40). Of these 32 patients, 24 (75.0%) had unilateral and 8 (25.0%) had bilateral BMCs, none of the patients had a history of trauma. No symptoms associated with bifid condyles were observed in any of the patients with BMCs.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible that BMC is a more frequent condition than is commonly perceived. However, because of the minimal symptoms associated with this condition, the authors believe that it will remain an incidental finding upon routine radiographic examination, rather than a clinical observation. Nevertheless, in symptomatic cases or in cases where surgical treatment is planned, panoramic radiographs should be supplemented with CT.
Miloglu
O
O
Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey. omiloglu@hotmail.com
Yalcin
E
E
Buyukkurt
Mc
M
Yilmaz
Ab
A
Harorli
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007569:Jaw Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult