title: Occurrence of Pneumatic Cavities Surrounding the Temporomandibular Joint.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence, the location, and the characteristics of the pneumatic cavities (PCAs) surrounding the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by using cone-beam computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed by using the three-dimensional data archives from Faculty of Dentistry, Bezmialem University, Istanbul, Turkey. The age and sex had been previously recorded for all of the patients. The location and the morphologic characteristics of the PCAs were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pneumatic cavities were found in 18 patients (15%): 11 women (61%) and 7 men (39%). Eleven (57.9%) of the patients showed unilocular pneumatic air cells and 8 (42.1%) of them showed multilocular ones. The unilateral-to-bilateral ratio was 2.3:1. The age range was 8 to 76 years (mean 29.5 ± 21.86 years), and the female-to-male ratio was 1.57:1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cone-beam computed tomography provides images without superimposition that allows accurate and easy evaluation of the PCAs surrounding the TMJ. Our results suggest that the occurrence of PCAs is higher than has been previously reported; therefore, it is recommended for clinicians who are planning to perform TMJ surgery to think about the PCAs to understand the exact morphology for avoiding intraoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: *Faculty of Dentistry, Departments of Orthodontics †Oral Radiology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berza
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sen Yilmaz
authors.forename: Sertac
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksakalli
authors.forename: Muhammet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birlik
authors.forename: Ferit
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dadasli
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolukbasi
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aytugar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult