Khojastepour Leila, Mirbeigi Sanam, Ezoddini Fatemeh, Zeighami Noshafarin
Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medial Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
J Dent (Tehran). 2015 Apr;12(4):235-42.
Pneumatized articular eminence or tubercle (PAT) is an air cell cavity in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. Pneumatization of articular eminence may be seen incidentally on panoramic radiographs (PRs) as a unilocular or multilocular radiolucent defect. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and the pattern of PAT on PR in an Iranian population.
A total of 3,098 PRs belonging to 1,735 females and 1,363 males were retrospectively investigated for the presence and radiographic features of PAT. All PRs were taken for routine dental examination. Chi-square test, univariate odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and binary logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
Overall, PAT was found in 2.1 % of cases including 41 females and 23 males (with a mean age of 33.23±12.43 and 35.64±13.24 years, respectively, range 19-69 years). There were 40 unilateral and 24 bilateral cases (total: 88 PATs) including 49 unilocular and 39 multilocular cases. There was no significant difference in PAT between males and females or different age groups (P>0.05 and all CIs included 1.00). Binary logistic regression indicated that there was no relationship between the presence of PAT and age or sex.
Knowledge about this anatomical variation is helpful for clinicians who are planning to perform temporomandibular joint surgery. They should assess the radiographic imaging thoroughly before the surgery. It can also provide valuable information to understand the differential diagnosis of pathological entities in this region.
气化关节结节（PAT）是颞骨颧突内的气房腔。关节结节气化在全景片（PRs）上可偶然表现为单房或多房的透射性缺损。本研究旨在评估伊朗人群中PR上PAT的患病率及类型。
回顾性研究了1735名女性和1363名男性的共3098张PR，以确定PAT的存在及影像学特征。所有PR均用于常规牙科检查。采用卡方检验、单因素比值比（OR）及相应的95%置信区间（95%CI）和二元逻辑回归进行统计分析。
总体而言，2.1%的病例发现有PAT，包括41名女性和23名男性（平均年龄分别为33.23±12.43岁和35.64±13.24岁，范围19 - 69岁）。有40例单侧和24例双侧病例（共88个PAT），包括49例单房和39例多房病例。男性和女性或不同年龄组之间的PAT无显著差异（P>0.05，所有CI均包含1.00）。二元逻辑回归表明PAT的存在与年龄或性别无关。
了解这种解剖变异对计划进行颞下颌关节手术的临床医生有帮助。他们在手术前应全面评估影像学检查结果。这也可为理解该区域病理实体的鉴别诊断提供有价值的信息。
