Synovial Cyst of the Temporomandibular Joint: A Case Report and Literature Review

Dwa S, Chen Q, Gong Z, Bajracharya K and Lin Z

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, China

^*Correspondance to: Zhongcheng Gong 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1046

Abstract

Synovial cyst in the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is rare entity but predominant in dorsum of the wrist, foot and knee. It develops by the increase of intracapsular pressure due to trauma, or inflammation which causes capsular herniation or by displacement of synovial tissue during embryogenesis. Here we report a case of synovial cyst in TMJ. A 42 year Chinese woman with synovial cyst in right TMJ is presented. Clinical examination revealed 2cmx 2cm mass in the preauricular region. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a cystic mass with abnormal intensities in the lateral region of the right TMJ. A preauricular approach was carried out and a surgical excision of the cyst from the lateral surface of the TMJ capsule was completed. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining shown that the cyst lined by synovial cells. The clinical and radiological follow-up (after 4 months) showed no sign of recurrence. Meanwhile, total of 20 cases including the present case reported in the literature from 1978 to 2014 with the differential diagnosis and management of cysts are discussed. Surgical removal is the recommended treatment. Few other treatments like aspiration, compression of the cyst, and injection of a sclerotic agent have also been reported but all of these are associated with high recurrence rate so not recommended.

Keywords

Synovial cyst; Temporomandibular joint; Ganglion cyst

Cite the article

Dwa S, Chen Q, Gong Z, Bajracharya K, Lin Z. Synovial Cyst of the Temporomandibular Joint: A Case Report and Literature Review. Clin Surg. 2016; 1: 1046.