Osteocartilaginous exostosis (Osteochondroma) of the mandibular condyle

Abstract

Osteocartilaginous exostosis (osteochondroma) is a benign lesion that occurs in the epiphyses of the long bones, primarily in the femur and tibia. It is cartilage capped bony growth protruding from the surface of the affected bone. Osteocartilaginous exostosis of the mandibular condyle is rare, and only a few cases have been reported in literature.In this paper, we report on a case of osteocartilaginous exostosis occurring in the left mandibular condyle. The patient, a 33-year-old woman whose complaint was a facial asymmetry and malocclusion, was examined on May, 8, 1986. She had first noticed a painless swelling at the left temple 3 years previously. Palpation revealed that the left mandibular condyle was swollen and dislocated from the fossa. Trismus was not found, suggesting that the cartilaginous cap had functioned as an articular cartilage. The radiologic views demonstrated the presence of a large bony mass protruding from the medial aspect of the mandibular condyle. The surgically excised tumor showed osseous tissue covered with a hyaline cartilage of varying thickness. The patient was followed without evidence of recurrence for 7 months after the surgical operation.