Enfermedad por depósito de cristales de pirofosfato cálcico en la articulación temporomandibular con extensión intracraneal. A propósito de un caso

AbstractIntroductionThe human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the structural complex that supports the functional and anatomic relations between the temporal bone and mandible. Symptoms and signs related to neoplastic or pseudotumoral disease of this joint are similar to the symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.Case reportWe report a new case of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) of the TMJ with intracranial spread. CPDD is a microcrystaline arthropathy with some clinical characteristics of synovial chondromatosis. Key aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of CPDD are discussed.DiscussionThe most frequent tumors of the TMJ are metastatic. Among the tumoralpseudotumoral lesions that originate directly on the synovial membrane are synovial chondromatosis, villonodular synovitis, synovial sarcoma, tophaceous gout and CPDD. CPDD is relatively common in elderly patients, especially in the knee. Analysis of the crystals is essential for diagnosis. Surgical treatment is indicated.ConclusionsCPDD is an extremely rare disease in the TMJ. TMJ tumor masses are a diagnostic challenge. The wide variety of presenting symptoms frequently obscures the underlying pathology and delays diagnosis