Chondrocalcinosis of the temporomandibular joint. A parotid pseudotumor

Chondrocalcinosis, ie, calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease, has a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from an absence of symptoms to a severely destructive arthropathy. We recently treated a patient with CPPD deposition adjacent to the temporomandibular joint, which simulated a parotid tumor. The CPPD crystals are weakly positively birefringent under a polarizing microscope. Most frequently they are found roentgenographically as asymptomatic deposits in fibrocartilaginous structures, especially the knee meniscus. A less frequent manifestation is "pseudogout" acute arthritis. Rarely, joint destruction is found.