title: Detection of bifid mandibular condyle using computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and characteristics of bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) using computed tomography (CT) evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was carried out using the CT records of 550 patients referred to the Medical School of Erciyes University (Kayseri, Turkey) between 2007 and 2010. T-tests were used to compare frequency of BMC between the left and right sides and between female and male patients. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and a chi-squared test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 550 Patients, 10 patients (1.82%) were found to have BMCs. Five patients were female (50%) and five were male (50%). Of these 10 patients, 7 (70%) had unilateral and 3 (30%) had bilateral BMCs. As a result, a total of 13 BMCs were found in 10 patients. No statistically significant differences were found between either the right- and left-sided BMCs or between female and male patients (p >.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first retrospective study investigating the prevalence and characteristics of BMC using computed tomography. Although BMC is an uncommon anomaly, it may be a more frequent condition in the Turkish population. Further studies and research on the orientation of duplicated condylar heads should be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. dt.sahman@gmail.com
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahman
authors.forename: Yildiray
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sisman
authors.forename: Ahmet-Ercan
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sekerci
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tarim-Ertas
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokmak
authors.forename: Ibrahim-Sacit
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Tuna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult