A rare case of severe isolated temporomandibular joint involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Abstract

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. Early temporomandibular joint involvement may be asymptomatic or with mild symptomatology, despite radiological signs of substantial joint damage. Early diagnosis and management is of substantial importance, because orofacial symptoms due to temporomandibular joint arthritis may be disabling and interfere with impaired quality of life or even dentofacial abnormalities. When temporomandibular joint involvement is the first and only manifestation - a very rare event – it is easy to remain undiagnosed. It is noteworthy that the current body of published material on isolated arthritis of the temporomandibular joint is limited to 2 case reports and a multinational cohort of pediatric rheumatology centers.