A Multidisciplinary Approach to Synovial Chondromatosis of the Temporomandibular Joint With Cranial Base Involvement: A Brief Review of the Literature and Case Report

Abstract

Synovial chondromatosis (SC) is an infrequent, benign condition of unknown etiology affecting the synovium within articular joints. Often considered a metaplastic process, multiple cartilaginous nodules develop in the confines of the synovial membrane. In time, these cartilage nodules develop into fragments, sometimes detaching from the synovium and, thus, become loose in an adjacent synovial cavity. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an unusual site of involvement, with the extracapsular compromise of the cranial base exceedingly rare. A 68-year-old woman presented with a tender mass to the left TMJ that later proved to be SC. Computed tomography illustrated a rare extension of the lesion into the middle cranial fossa. The multidisciplinary effort to remove the mass in its entirety included both oral and maxillofacial surgical and neurosurgical teams. We have reviewed the presentation, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and outcomes of the present case, with diagnostic images and photomicrographs of the lesion included. We also briefly reviewed the reported studies.