# A Case of Synovial Chondromatosis of Temporomandibular Joint with Numerous Loose Bodies

Authors: Yumiko Matsusue; Kazuhiko Yamamoto; Nobuhiro Yamakawa; Ikumi Yamamoto; Shinpei Matsuda; Hitoshi Yoshimura; Tetsuji Kawakami; Tadaaki Kirita
Journal: Case Reports in Dentistry
 (2021)

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## Abstract

Here, we report a case of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with numerous loose bodies. A 56-year-old woman was examined in the oral surgery department for trismus and pain in the left TMJ when opening the mouth. Imaging indicated TMJ synovial chondromatosis, and the patient was referred to our department for further examination. Her facial features were symmetrical, and no occlusal abnormalities were found. The maximum mouth opening was 30 mm, and movement of the left mandibular condyle was restricted and accompanied by pain and joint sounds. Panoramic radiography showed deformation of the left mandibular condyle and radiopaque lesions surrounding it. Computed tomography showed numerous small granules around the left mandibular condyle, some of which were calcified. Magnetic resonance imaging showed anterior disc displacement without reduction in the left TMJ and hypointense lesions on T2-weighted images. Bone scintigraphy showed an accumulation in the area of the left TMJ. Based on the diagnosis of the left TMJ synovial chondromatosis, the lesions were removed, and plastic surgery on the mandibular condyle was performed under general anesthesia. We removed 386 white loose bodies. Histopathologically, the loose bodies were consistent with synovial chondromatosis lesions. The postoperative course was uneventful, with no recurrence or TMJ dysfunction approximately 5 years after the surgery, indicating that open surgery is the best course of intervention in such cases.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Synovial chondromatosis is a benign disease in which synovial cells create cartilaginous metaplasia in synovial tissue, resulting in loose cartilage bodies in the joint cavity. The most common sites include the knee, elbow, and hip. Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was first described by Von Haller in 1764 [1]. Synovial chondromatosis is not frequently encountered in the TMJ, but reports of such cases have increased along with recent advances in diagnostic imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we report a case of TMJ synovial chondromatosis with numerous loose bodies to draw attention to this rare condition and suggest a suitable course of action for its treatment. We also review the related literature of reported TMJ synovial chondromatosis cases.


## 2. Case Presentation

A 56-year-old woman presented to our department with a chief complaint of pain in her left TMJ in December 2014. Around November 2012, the patient had noticed pain in her left TMJ when widely opening her mouth, but the symptoms disappeared, and she did not address the matter. Around July 2014, the symptoms recurred, and she began experiencing trismus. She visited the dental and oral surgery department at a hospital for examination. Both computed tomography (CT) and MRI indicated synovial chondromatosis of the TMJ, and she was referred to our department for treatment.Clinical examination found that she had a fairly healthy physique and no signs of nutritional deficiency. There was no visible facial deformation, and the maximum mouth opening was 30 mm. Movement of the left mandibular condyle was poor, and there was pain as well as joint sounds when widely opening the mouth but no occlusal abnormality (Figure1).Figure 1
Facial photograph from the first examination. There is no visible facial deformation.Panoramic radiography showed that the left mandibular condyle was flattened, with a radiopaque image near the superior joint cavity (Figure2). The TMJ radiograph also showed deformation in the left mandibular fossa. With mouth opening, both mandibular condyles were able to move to near the lowest point of the articular eminence. CT showed that the left mandibular condyle was flattened, and small and granular nodules were observed in the joint capsule of the left TMJ, some of which were calcified (Figure 3).Figure 2
Panoramic radiograph from the first examination. The left mandibular condyle is flattened, and radiopaque images are seen near the superior joint cavity.Figure 3
CT images from first examination: (a) axial image, (b) coronal image, and (c, d) 3D image. Deformation of the left mandibular condyle is seen, with many small, granular nodules in the area of the left TMJ, some of which are calcified.
(a)(b)(c)(d)T1-weighted MRI of the left TMJ showed deformity of the left mandibular condyle and anterior disc displacement without reduction, and T2-weighted MRI showed fine nodular areas of hypointensity in the superior joint cavity (Figures4(a)–4(c)). Bone scintigraphy showed accumulation at an area matching the left TMJ (Figure 4(d)). Based on these findings, the final diagnosis was of left synovial chondromatosis of the TMJ.Figure 4
MR image and bone scintigraphy from the first examination. (a, b) T1-weighted image; (c) T2-weighted image. In the left TMJ, T1-weighted images show deformity of the left mandibular condyle and anterior disc displacement without reduction, and T2-weighted images show areas of small, nodular hypointensity around the left mandibular condyle. (d) Bone scintigraphy. An accumulation is seen in the area of the left TMJ.
(a)(b)(c)(d)Approximately 2 months after the initial examination, the masses were removed, and plastic surgery was performed on the mandibular condyle under general anesthesia. Incision lines were set according to the Al-Kayat–Bramley method [2]. The skin incisions were made, detaching up to the temporal fascia. An incision was made in the superficial temporal fascia, then in between the superficial and deep layers to the zygomatic arch, where the periosteum was incised to expose the joint capsule. The joint capsule was punctured, and approximately 2 mL of slightly viscous synovial fluid was collected. Incising the joint capsule revealed numerous white loose bodies around the mandibular condyle and in the superior joint cavity. The loose bodies were not adherent to the surrounding tissue and were carefully removed.Although the articular disc was preserved, the mandibular condyle was deformed. Therefore, plastic surgery of the mandibular condyle was performed using an ultrasonic cutting instrument (Piezosurgery®, Mectron Medical Technology, Carasco, Italy). A closed drain was placed in the wound, and the incision was sutured to complete the operation (Figure5).Figure 5
Intraoperative findings: (a) skin incision line (arrowhead); (b) numerous white loose bodies exposed after incision of the joint capsule.
(a)(b)At the time of writing, it has been more than 5 years since the surgery. There have been no signs of local recurrence or trismus. Image findings have also not indicated any recurrence (Figures6 and 7).Figure 6
Panoramic radiograph approximately 2 years after the surgery. There are no findings suggesting recurrence.Figure 7
CT and MR images approximately 2 years after the surgery: (a, b) CT images—(a) axial image and (b) coronal image; (c, d) MR images, T1-weighted image. None of the images suggest recurrence.
(a)(b)(c)(d)The loose bodies removed were 2 to 5 mm in diameter, white, bone-like, hard, and numbered 386 in total (Figure8).Figure 8
Extracted specimens. A total of 386 white, bone-like, hard, loose bodies of 2–5 mm in diameter were removed.Histopathologically, there was proliferation of cartilage tissue with chondrocytes forming round or irregular small masses surrounded by fibrous tissue, along with fibrosis and ossification. There were no signs of malignancy, which is consistent with synovial chondromatosis (Figure9).Figure 9
Histopathological findings: (a) hematoxylin-eosin staining ×1.25, low magnification; (b) hematoxylin-eosin staining ×200, high magnification of AI; (c) hematoxylin-eosin staining ×200, high magnification of AII. Cartilage tissue with growth of chondrocytes forming round or irregular small masses surrounded by fibrous tissue. Fibrosis and ossification are observed in some areas.
(a)(b)(c)


## 3. Discussion

In this report, we presented the case of a patient with TMJ synovial chondromatosis with numerous loose bodies who was successfully treated with surgery and has remained symptom free 5 years after the operation. Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint presents with clinical symptoms similar to TMJ disorder, including trismus, restricted movement of the TMJ, pain, and noise [3, 4]. Thus, patients are sometimes treated for TMJ disorder for an extended period rather than receiving proper treatment [5]. Imaging is essential for diagnosing this disease, but simple radiography often does not show any changes. CT depicts joint and soft tissue swelling, multiple calcifications in a joint, or hardening and resorption of joint surfaces, but lesions may not be depicted in the absence of obvious calcification or bone changes. MRI shows enlargement of the joint cavity, synovial fluid retention, and a swollen joint capsule with multiple hypointense masses in T2-weighted images [6–8]. Diagnosis is relatively easy in cases with numerous calcifications, such as the present one, but when these are not visible, diagnosis can be complicated. Therefore, both CT and MRI should be used to ensure a comprehensive diagnosis incorporating all clinical findings [9–11]. This condition must be differentiated from other possible diagnoses such as TMJ internal derangement, tuberculous arthritis, osteochondrosis ossificans, osteochondral fracture, and pseudogout [12]. If accompanied by intracranial progression [13], conditions such as meningioma, schwannoma, chondrosarcoma, lymphoma, and cholesteatoma should be considered [4].Milgram [14, 15] classified synovial chondromatosis of the knee, elbow, and hip into three stages and considered it a self-limited disease that progresses from stages 1 to 3 in this order. In stage 3, synovectomy is not necessary if the loose bodies are removed, and even in stage 2, synovectomy is not always required. Gerard et al. [16] classified the disease into four stages of histopathological changes in synovial activity. They recommend expansion surgery in the early stages and reduction surgery in the late stages of synovial chondromatosis. Our case presented as stage 3 according to Milgram’s classification and stage 2 according to Gerard’s classification. By carefully removing as many of the numerous loose bodies as possible and performing plastic surgery of the mandibular condyle, we minimized postoperative dysfunction, indicating that this intervention was appropriate.We located 202 case reports of TMJ synovial chondromatosis, including the present one, published from 2009 to 2019 [7, 11, 17–58] (Table 1). The cases covered a wide age range from 15 to 86 years and included 144 women and 58 men. The clinical symptoms were swelling in 60 cases, pain in 104 cases, trismus in 97 cases, and joint sounds in 67 cases. All patients were examined at a medical institution for these symptoms. Approximately 90% of patients had open surgeries, but approximately 10% had arthroscopic surgeries. In addition to removing the lesions, resection arthroplasty was performed in 14 cases, mandibular plastic surgery or resection in 8 cases, discectomy in 11 cases, and synovectomy in 12 cases. Conservative surgery was selected if the surrounding tissue was normal. Loose bodies were found in most cases, but ours was the only one where more than 300 loose bodies were removed.Table 1
Summary of data from the studies included in the review, 2009 through 2019.
No.First authorYearNo. of casesAgeSexSiteClinical manifestationsImagingLoose bodiesNo.Size (mm)Treatments (other than synovial chondrectomy)RemarksSwellingPainLJOCrepitationCTMRICBCTArthrotomyCondylectomyDiscectomySynovectomySuch as arthroscopy1Peng [17]2009158FR+++—+——————++2Cai [18]2009121FL—++(28 mm)+—+—75×8————Only arthroscopy3Balasundaram [19]2009182ML+—+(35 mm)———+——NLNLNLNL4Zha [20]2009144ML++++++—90-95NL———+5Sato [21]2010174FL+++(35 mm)—++—1801-5————Arthroscopy6Goizueta-Adame [22]2010115FL—++(29 mm)—++———+———Osteotomy of the zygomatic arch7Goizueta-Adame [22]2010174FL—++(14 mm)—++———+———8Boffano [23]2010155FR++—++——<6<5———+9Pimenta e Souza [24]2010128MR+——++——10NLNLNLNLNL10Guarda-Nardini [25]2010153FR+++(20 mm)—X-P only——210-25NLNLNLNL11Cai [26]2010148FL—+—+—+—316×9————Only arthroscopy12González-Pérez [27]2010150ML+++(20 mm)+++—352-10—+——13Shah [28]2011125FL—+——+——43<1.5×2.5——++14Mori [29]2011152FL—+-(48 mm)++——NVS————15Lim [30]2011149MR+++(27 mm)++——NVS————16Chen [31]2011150ML+++(28 mm)———+NVS+———Arthroscopy17Guijarro-Martínez [32]2011138FB+—-(40 mm)——+—NNL————18Matsumura [33]2012146MR——+(24 mm)+++—+NL—+—+Aspiration biopsy19Matsumoto [34]2013134FR——-(42 mm)++++NNL————Assisted with arthroscopy20Coleman [35]2013163FL+———++————+——Aspiration biopsy21Valentini [36]2013160FL++——++———————22Sink [37]2014182ML——-(40 mm)——+———————Aspiration biopsy23Pau [38]2014170MR+++—++————+——Reconstruction of the cranial base24Cascone [39]2914130ML—+———+—1120-30———+25Pinto [40]2015154FL+++(20 mm)—++—11<10————26Ivask [41]2015145FL—++(38 mm)++——N3-10+———Arthroscopy27Sozzi [42]2015168FR+++(20 mm)+++—NVS————28Yoshitake [43]2016172MR+++(30 mm)—++———————29Selvi [44]2016145FR+++(24 mm)——+—NNL+—+—Arthroscopy, arthroplasty, eminectomy30McCaffery [45]2017134MR+———++————+——Osteotomy of the zygomatic arch31Khanna [46]2017143ML+++—+————————32Khanna [46]2017135MR+++—++—+NL————Osteotomy of the zygomatic arch33Kim [47]2017126FR—+——++—+2————34Kim [47]2017131FL—+-(45 mm)—++—+7-10————35Kim [48]2018150ML++——++—120Small————36Holtmann [49]2018163FR++——++—2514×6 VS————37Matsuda [50]2019173FL++——++—44VS————∗138Tang [51]2019160FR—+——+————————39Tang [51]2019138FR+—+(25 mm)—+—++NL————40Tang [51]2019130FL+++(28 mm)—+—++NL————41Meng [52]20102044.0 (32-67)8/1212/7/113171451513—40>NVS829—Arthroscopy: 142Wang [11]20122245.3 (17-64)7/1512/10/0NLNLNLNL—22—NLNLNLNLNLNL43Cai [53]20163343.0 (21-62)7/2618/15/032016/30.5 mm(15-55 mm)18433—N0.5-16————Only arthroscopy: 32Assisted with arthroscopy: 144Liu [7]20161047.2 (31-67)2/82/8/077751—96∗2NL————45Bai [54]20173648.11 (29-65)11/2514/22/0NLNL2293636—4∗2NL————Assisted with arthroscopy: 3646Brabyn [55]2018642.0 (33-57)0/60/6/02232.3 mm (20-46 mm)455—6∗20.5-3.0————47Maffia [56]2019648.6 (30-61)2/42/4/0565366—NLNL———648Lee [57]20191632.68 (19-49)2/147/9/0—1048215—40-1000.5-6.5————Only arthroscopy: 1649Benslama [58]20191250.5 (43-86)4/83/9/04106226—2-30VS————Assisted with arthroscopy: 150Present case2020156FL—++(30 mm)+++—3862-5++——The therapy for TMJ synovial chondromatosis is principally surgical intervention, as the number of loose bodies increases or the symptoms worsen [59]. If the loose bodies are confined to the superior joint space, arthroscopic surgery can be selected, although some studies have reported recurrence after arthroscopic surgery [60]. If the goal is definite cure, we believe that open surgical resection is the best option.Synovial chondromatosis is characterized by multiple chondrodysplasia or osteochondrodysplasia and free body formation in a joint due to synovial metaplasia, but its underlying pathological mechanism remains unclear. Possible triggers are trauma and continuous irritation to the synovial membrane [61]. Trauma is considered to lead to the production of cartilage from secondary synovial changes, while continuous stimulation may trigger cartilage formation from synovial cell metaplasia due to internal joint damage. However, our patient had no history of trauma. We believe that anterior disc displacement allows rich connective tissue growth in the posterior synovium, which is chronically stimulated by the mandibular condyle. Although the molecular mechanism of this disease is not understood, immunohistochemical studies of loose bodies from synovial chondromatosis have found expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 in chondrocytes, suggesting their involvement in the pathology [62, 63]. In a study of synovial tissue from TMJ synovitis, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α were expressed in both the synovial cell layer and the vascular wall [64, 65]. These reports indicate that the onset of this disease is influenced by a mechanism involving inflammatory cytokines and other substances produced by the synovial membrane or microvascular disorders that regulate the growth and activity of synovial cells against a background of genetic or environmental factors [66, 67]. However, in addition to the above factors, various cytokines, growth factors, pain-producing substances, and other substances involved in inflammation and cell proliferation are known to be expressed in the synovial fluid and synovial cells of the TMJ [65, 68]. Clarifying the locations and effects of these substances could help provide diagnostic indicators for the diagnosis of this type of synovial chondritis and its pathological progression.The prognosis of this disease is relatively good, and recurrence is uncommon. However, because of reports of malignant transformation to chondrosarcoma in other joints [6, 69, 70], we plan to continue to follow-up this patient.In conclusion, we reported a rare case of TMJ synovial chondromatosis with 386 loose bodies, which were removed using open surgery. There has been no recurrence in the 5-year follow-up period, indicating that open surgery is the best course of intervention in such cases.



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