Prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular tubercle: First large series in Iranian people

Abstract

PurposeThis study was performed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular tubercle or eminence among a defined group of Iranian people.Materials and MethodsDigital panoramic radiographs of 1694 patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Hamadan Dental School, Iran were evaluated retrospectively to detect the above lesion. Finally, 1563 radiographs were selected according to inclusion criteria. Then, a review was done of 10 large case series found using a MEDLINE search of the literature. Chi-squared test was used to analyze the differences in variables such as age, gender, laterality, and locularity in our case series.ResultsThe average age of our samples was 32.6±7.63 years. Pneumatized articular tubercle was found in 98 cases, representing a prevalence of 6.2% with a mean age of 22.8±7.9 and a range of 8 to 60 years. Sixty-four (65.3%) pneumatized articular tubercles were unilateral, with 30 lesions on the right and 34 on the left side. Bilateral lesions were found in 34 (34.7%) patients. 52 (53.06%) of the pneumatized articular tubercles were of the unilocular type and 46 (46.94%) were multilocular. The results showed no statistically significant differences regarding age (p=0.454), gender (p=0.634), laterality (p=0.252), or locularity (p=0.807) among the samples.ConclusionAmong ten large case series from other countries, the prevalence of pneumatized articular tubercle (6.2%) in Iranian patients was higher than that of all eight of the case series that used the same detection method as the present study of panoramic radiography.

A Preliminary Study of Prevalence and Characteristics of Pneumatization of Articular Eminence on Cone Beam Computed Tomography

“…44 of the PATs were unilocular type, and 66 of the PATs were multilocular typein the study done by Yavuz et al (18). Shokri et al (20) found 53.1% of unilocular and 46.9% of multilocular PAT in their study. 38.5% PAT of unilocular and 61.5% PAT of multilocular type were observed in Orhan and his colleagues' study (8).…”

“…Shokri et al (20) evaluated digital panoramic radiographs of 1563 patient with a mean age of 32.6±7.63 years. PAT was found in 98 cases in their study, representing a prevalence of 6.2% with a mean age of 22.8±7.9 and a range of 8 to 60 years .…”

Prevalence of Zygomatic Air Cell Defects in a South Indian Population- A Retrospective Study

“…Surgical procedures involving mandibular condyle and articular eminence can result in inadvertent penetration through the defect, and lead to dural tear and cerebro-spinal fluid leakage [7]. Moreover when ZACD is evident on the preoperative radiograph, eminoplasty or eminectomy are contraindicated [8].…”

Pneumatized Articular Tubercle and Pneumatized Roof of Glenoid Fossa on Cone Beam Computed Tomography: Prevalence and Characteristics in Selected Iranian Population

“…In addition, in the mastoid process, accessory air cells may be able to be located in the adjacent bone. (1)(2)(3) .When these exist in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, they are known as the pneumatized articular tubercle (PAT) and the pneumatized roof of the glenoid fossa (PRGF). (4,5) This asymptomatic radiolucency in the zygomatic process is similar to mastoid air cells.…”

“…Furthermore, the medial portion of the articular eminence could only be thoroughly assessed on CT or CBCT. (2,4,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) The recognition of these air cells is necessary from a surgical point of view. Penetration through this anatomic finding during surgical procedures may have disastrous outcomes.…”