title: Diagnosis and treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the TMJ: a clinical case.
abstract: Synovial chondromatosis is a rare, benign, chronic, progressive and proliferative lesion that usually affects large joints. This disease is characterized by the development of cartilaginous nodules within the space of synovial joints, tendon sheaths or cases; the nodules subsequently degrade, detach and form free-floating, calcified bodies within the joint space. In 1933, Axhausen described the first case of synovial chondromatosis affecting the temporomandibular joint. The aetiology still remains unknown, but a history of trauma and inflammation is often found. Clinical symptoms of chondromatosis affecting the TMJ are often characterized by swelling, pain, headache, crepitation, malocclusion and joint dysfunction. The big challenge concerning synovial chondromatosis is to suspect and establish a correct diagnosis. These nonspecific initial signs and symptoms may mimic other nonspecific TMJ's diseases and can easily lead to a delay in diagnosis or a misdiagnosis. Here we present a case of synovial chondromatosis of the TMJ and the appropriate diagnostic and treatment performed.
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arangio
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Egidi
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capriotti
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vellone
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castrechini
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costrechini
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cascone
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Calafati
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-facial Surgery Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
keywords: TMJ surgery; chondrocalcinosis; temporomandibular joint