title: Stylohyoid complex ossification in temporomandibular disorder: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stylohyoid complex ossification (SCO) can be associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). However, this subject is poorly investigated in epidemiological studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the association between TMD and SCO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight individuals with TMD and 93 control individuals without TMD were enrolled in a case-control study and paired according to age and gender. Panoramic radiographs were made of all participants, and SCO was measured in millimeters (mm) by a blinded researcher. Ossification was held to begin at measurements of 30 mm or more. The association between symptoms (pain upon swallowing or turning the head and the sensation of a foreign body in the throat) and SCO was investigated. Pearson chi-square tests were used for the comparison of proportions, (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 44.9% of those with TMD and 46.2% of the control population exhibited SCO (P=.858). TMD was associated with pain upon swallowing (P<.05) and upon turning the head P<.01), but there were no associations between the symptoms possibly related to SCO and the presence of ossification (pain upon swallowing P=.658; sensation of a foreign body in the throat P=.980; pain upon turning the head P=.405).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that there are no associations between TMD and SCO. Some symptoms classically associated with SCO also occur in TMD patients.
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology and Oral Surgery, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors: Francisco Carlos
authors: FC
authors: Sancio-Gonçalves
authors: Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães
authors: MH
authors: de Abreu
authors: José Mário
authors: JM
authors: Netto Soares
authors: Sérgio Antonucci
authors: SA
authors: Amaral
authors: Fernando Marques
authors: FM
authors: Barbosa Porfírio
authors: Marcelo Drummond
authors: MD
authors: Naves
authors: Evandro Neves
authors: EN
authors: Abdo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010614:Pharynx; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications*