Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: Immunohistochemical examinations regarding the role of insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins in the etiology of this disease

TMJ synovial chondromatosis - an evaluation of 37 patients

PURPOSE

The authors evaluated a cohort of 37 patients with histologically verified synovial chondromatosis (SC) between 2013 and 2022.

METHODS

The cohort consisted of 37 patients (26 women, 11 men). 36 patients had unilateral involvement, while one patient had bilateral involvement. The average age of the patients was 54.77 years. The authors used the Milgram histopathological classification. They evaluated SC localisation, clinical symptoms, diagnostics and treatment (including recurrence incidence) in this cohort.

RESULTS

In 31 patients (83.7%) SC affected only the upper joint space in one patient (2.7%) the lower space, and in five patients (13.6%) both spaces. 12 patients (32%) were Milgram Stage 1 (presence of synovial metaplasia without loose bodies), eight patients (22%) were Stage 2 (presence of synovial changes, loose bodies), and 17 patients (46%) were Stage 3 (presence of loose bodies, no synovial changes). Pain was the dominant clinical symptom (32 patients, 86.4%). Treatment consisted of arthroscopy and open surgery. Two patients underwent primary reconstruction and total TMJ replacement. Treatment was successful in 89.2% of cases (33 patients), with four (10.8%) patients suffering recurrence.

CONCLUSION

As this patient cohort shows, pain was the dominant symptom in patients with SC. Magnetic resonance imaging is fundamental in the diagnosis of SC, demonstrating pathological findings even in patients for whom an initial X-ray was negative. These were mainly patients with Milgram Stages 1 and 2 without calcification, loose bodies or pathological changes of the bone structures. This is why the authors recommend MRI for any patient experiencing pain for more than three months, and if this reveals an effusion, joint distension or intraarticular soft tissue mass, they will always indicate arthroscopy. Thorough follow-up of patients is recommended, although SC recurrence is not very frequent. The authors recommend follow-up one, three and six months after surgery, and then annually for the first five years after surgery. They recommend follow-up MRI one, two and five years after surgery.

Uncommon tumors of temporomandibular joint: An institutional experience and review

BACKGROUND

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) harbors a myriad of pathologic alterations including arthritides and benign and malignant neoplasms.

METHODS

Herein, we describe our institutional experience of some uncommon and unusual synovial pathologies of the TMJ along with a review of literature. We searched through the archives of department of pathology and institutional electronic medical record for specimens of TMJ between 1999 and 2019. Hematoxylin and eosin slides were reviewed and data (final diagnosis, age, gender, clinical presentation, tumor size, treatment modality, recurrence, and vital status) were collected.

RESULTS

A total of seven cases were identified including four cases of synovial chrondromatosis; and one case each of tenosynovial giant cell tumor, localized type, tenosynovial giant cell tumor, diffuse type, and synovial sarcoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The article emphasizes on the clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and molecular features of these uncommon entities. The differential diagnosis of each entity is also discussed. Current updates in the management are also reviewed.