title: Pneumatized Articular Eminence and Assessment of Its Prevalence and Features on Panoramic Radiographs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumatized articular eminence or tubercle (PAT) is an air cell cavity in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. Pneumatization of articular eminence may be seen incidentally on panoramic radiographs (PRs) as a unilocular or multilocular radiolucent defect. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and the pattern of PAT on PR in an Iranian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3,098 PRs belonging to 1,735 females and 1,363 males were retrospectively investigated for the presence and radiographic features of PAT. All PRs were taken for routine dental examination. Chi-square test, univariate odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and binary logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, PAT was found in 2.1 % of cases including 41 females and 23 males (with a mean age of 33.23±12.43 and 35.64±13.24 years, respectively, range 19-69 years). There were 40 unilateral and 24 bilateral cases (total: 88 PATs) including 49 unilocular and 39 multilocular cases. There was no significant difference in PAT between males and females or different age groups (P>0.05 and all CIs included 1.00). Binary logistic regression indicated that there was no relationship between the presence of PAT and age or sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge about this anatomical variation is helpful for clinicians who are planning to perform temporomandibular joint surgery. They should assess the radiographic imaging thoroughly before the surgery. It can also provide valuable information to understand the differential diagnosis of pathological entities in this region.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medial Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khojastepour
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Sanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirbeigi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ezoddini
authors.affiliation: Dentist, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Noshafarin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zeighami
keywords: Articular; Eminence; Temporal Bone; Tubercle