Bilateral temporalis muscle hypertrophy: a case report

Abstract

Although masseteric hypertrophy is common and can be accompanied by temporalis hypertrophy, temporalis hypertrophy by itself is an exceptional finding. A patient, a chronic bruxer who was receiving psychiatric care and psychotherapeutic medications, complained of moderate discomfort and swelling in both temporal areas. It is believed that the patient's long-term stress-related sleeping problem was causing her bruxism. Of great interest was the fact that chronic bruxing had resulted in the rare occurrence of temporalis muscle hypertrophy without a coexisting masseteric hypertrophy.