TUMORS AND PSEUDOTUMOROUS LESIONS OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT - A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE

Tumours and pseudotumorous lesions originating from the synovial membr ane of the temporomandibular joint are rare. We report a series of six cases of such disorders. There were two cases of synovial chondromato sis, two of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease , one nodular synovitis and one synovial sarcoma. Three patients were female and three were male. Their ages ranged from 36 to 70 pears. All had atypical clinical and radiographical presentation. The prevalence , clinical and radiographical findings and pathological features of ea ch disease entity are discussed and a review of the literature is made concerning all tumours and pseudotumours arising from the temporomand ibular joint.