Orhan Kaan, Delilbasi Cagri, Cebeci Ilker, Paksoy Candan
Ankara University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2005 Mar;99(3):349-54. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.08.005.
Pneumatized articular eminence or tubercule (PAT) is an air cell cavity in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone that is similar to air cells in the mastoid process and ethmoid bone. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and variations of PAT among an outpatient dental clinic population at Ankara University, Turkey, to make a contribution to the few current studies about PAT.
A total of 1006 panoramic radiographs were retrospectively investigated for the prevalence and radiographic features of PAT. Meta-analysis was done for 4 large case series in the literature and our case series. Furthermore, we performed Chi-square test to evaluate age, gender, localization, and prevalence differences among 5 case series including ours.
PAT was found in 19 (1.88%) patients with a mean age of 36.6 (SD 21.06) years. Twelve cases (63.1%) occurred in females and 7 cases (36.9%) occurred in males. Bilateral PAT was found in 7 patients (36.9%). Meta-analysis of 5 large case series revealed a total of 6669 patients, of whom 115 had PAT (1.76% prevalence) occurring over an age range of 7 to 90 years. Fifty (43.47%) occurred in males and 65 (56.53%) occurred in females. Bilateral PAT was found in 28 (24.34%) patients. The result of Chi-square test showed no statistically significant differences among the 5 studies with respect to age, gender, localization, and prevalence.
Knowledge about these structures is helpful for the interpretation of imaging such as panoramic radiographs and provides valuable information to understand the spread and differential diagnosis of pathological entities in this region. Moreover, clinicians who are planning to perform temporomandibular joint surgery are advised to assess radiographic imaging thoroughly before the surgery to avoid intra-operative complications and reconstruction.
气化关节结节（PAT）是颞骨颧突中的气房腔，类似于乳突和筛骨中的气房。本研究的目的是确定土耳其安卡拉大学门诊牙科诊所人群中PAT的患病率和变异情况，为目前关于PAT的少数研究做出贡献。
回顾性研究1006张全景X线片，以确定PAT的患病率和影像学特征。对文献中的4个大型病例系列和我们的病例系列进行荟萃分析。此外，我们进行卡方检验，以评估包括我们的病例系列在内的5个病例系列之间的年龄、性别、定位和患病率差异。
在19例（1.88%）患者中发现了PAT，平均年龄为36.6岁（标准差21.06）。12例（63.1%）发生在女性，7例（36.9%）发生在男性。7例（36.9%）患者为双侧PAT。对5个大型病例系列的荟萃分析显示，共有6669例患者，其中115例有PAT（患病率1.76%），年龄范围为7至90岁。50例（43.47%）发生在男性，65例（56.53%）发生在女性。28例（24.34%）患者为双侧PAT。卡方检验结果显示，5项研究在年龄、性别、定位和患病率方面无统计学显著差异。
了解这些结构有助于解读全景X线片等影像学检查，为理解该区域病理实体的扩散和鉴别诊断提供有价值的信息。此外，建议计划进行颞下颌关节手术的临床医生在手术前彻底评估影像学检查，以避免术中并发症和重建。
