Uncommon Benign Tumors of the Temporomandibular Joint as an Alternative Etiology of Facial Asymmetry: A Case Series and Review

Abstract Background Temporomandibular joint tumors are rare entities that often go unnoticed; however, they are the cause of multiple severe facial asymmetries. Aim The study aims to present cases of rare temporomandibular joint tumors as an alternative cause of facial asymmetry. Materials and methods This is a retrospective longitudinal study with a literature review, including a consecutive sample of all TMJ procedures, ultimately aimed at investigating joint tumors that cause joint symptoms and severe facial asymmetry. The inclusion criteria were subjects with facial asymmetry and joint symptoms. The exclusion criteria were facial asymmetries caused by condylar hyperplasia. All patients were initially evaluated by clinical examination. Based on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic images, such as CT, MRI, and bone gammagraphy, were requested. Subsequently, the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. The following information was gathered: final diagnosis, age, gender, clinical presentation, tumor size, treatment method, recurrence, and vital status. Results Finally, 7 cases of TMJ tumors were obtained, with patients between the ages of 12 and 65 (38.8) years. The sample includes diagnoses such as osteoma, medullary osteoma, osteochondroma, chondroma, and synovial chondromatosis. Conclusion TMJ tumors are sporadic and generally predominantly benign. They can cause severe facial asymmetry due to slow growth, but may also cause significant asymmetry once they reach a critical size. Therefore, their management should be comprehensive, including tumor resection and correction of facial and occlusal asymmetry.