Melnick-Needles syndrome: radiographic alterations in the mandible.

After the adventitious finding of bilateral loculations in the mandibular rami and erosion of the coronoid processes of the mandible of a patient with Melnick-Needles syndrome (osteodysplasty), the jaws of four other individuals with the same disorder were examined for similar changes. The coronoid process of the mandible was grossly hypoplastic in all patients, and the rami were markedly abbreviated. In four of the five patients the angle was rounded. In three of five patients, loculations of unknown nature were found in the mandibular rami. Several patients exhibited impacted molar teeth.