The Misdiagnosis of Temporomandibular Disorders in Lateral Pharyngeal Space Infections—Two Case Reports

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD): an overview

“…It should be instituted once organic pathology such as systemic disease, hereditary conditions, or neoplasia is excluded as a possible diagnosis. Such organic pathology is rare, recent figures for incidentally found tumours of the temporomandibular joint show their incidence to be less than 1% of cases 72 , but cases of fibrosarcoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lateral pharyngeal space infections have been reported in the literature as mimicking the signs and symptoms of TMD 73–75 . Practitioners should therefore ensure they have undertaken a thorough examination of the patient and should investigate patients appropriately.…”

Chronic Dental Infections Mimicking Temporomandibular Disorders

“…4 Measurement of body temperature is an easy, noninvasive, and valuable method for evaluating infection. 2 In the current cases, elevated body temperatures indicated the presence of infection. Laboratory blood examinations, including WBC and CRP concentration, helped to estimate occult infection.…”

“…There are a variety of aetiological reasons for limited mouth opening and functional jaw pain, ranging from TMD, infections, and trauma to neoplastic disease in the orofacial region. [1][2][3][4] Several conditions might overlap and could have grave implications, including malignancy. TMD is a major non-dental cause of limited range of motion and jaw pain.…”

“…Limited jaw movement and functional jaw pain are common presenting signs among patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), infections, trauma, neoplasms, etc. [1][2][3][4] Treatment differs depending on the aetiology of each case. TMD-like symptoms caused by such a variety of diseases can be puzzling, but…”

Transzygomatic coronoidectomy as a treatment for pseudoankylosis of the mandible after transtemporal surgery

“…Though true ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint is an intra-articular condition, pseudoankylosis of the mandible has extra-articular causes, including trauma [5], radiotherapy [6], chronic infection [7], space-occupying lesion [8], or congenital hyperplasia of the coronoid process [9]. Limited mouth opening without pain is the main symptom.…”