Traumatic myositis ossificans in the masseter muscle

Traumatic myositis ossificans in the left masseter muscle of a 25-year-old man is described. The lesion, which extended intramuscularly from the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone to the mandibular angle, was resected by an intraoral approach. The specimen was composed of mature cortical bone in the outer portion and spongy bone, including degenerated muscle fibers and marrow spaces, in the inner portion. At the lower end of the specimen was a sequence of bone formation involving fibrous connective tissue, cartilage, woven bone, and mature lamellar bone with many osteoblasts. Clinicopathologic features of 26 reported cases of traumatic myositis ossificans of the maxillofacial region are reviewed, and the pathogenesis of the disease is discussed.