Imaging Sci Dent.
2023 Mar;53(1):83-89. 10.5624/isd.20220175.
A case report of an unusual temporomandibular joint mass: Nodular fasciitis
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- 2Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea
- 3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2541268
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20220175
Abstract
- Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign myofibroblastic proliferation that grows very rapidly, mimicking a sarcoma on imaging. It is treated by local excision, and recurrence has been reported in only a few cases, even when excised incompletely. The most prevalent diagnoses of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) masses include synovial chondromatosis, pigmented villonodular synovitis, and sarcomas. Cases of NF in the TMJ are extremely rare, and only 3 cases have been reported to date. Due to its destructive features and rarity, NF has often been misdiagnosed as a more aggressive lesion, which could expose patients to unnecessary and invasive treatment approaches beyond repair. This report presents a case of NF in the TMJ, focusing on various imaging features, along with a literature review aiming to determine the hallmark features of NF in the TMJ and highlight the diagnostic challenges.
