Loose bodies of the temporomandibular joint: arthrographic diagnosis

We report a series of four patients presenting with symptoms of temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction, and manifesting calcified loose bodies within the temporomandibular joint. Tomographic and arthrotomographic findings are described. Surgical confirmation was obtained in two patients and the histopathology in one demonstrated that the loose body was calcified cartilage surrounded by synovial tissue. The synovial tissue of the joint space was normal in all four cases by arthrotomography and at surgery in two patients. The findings suggest that these cases may be examples of osteochondrosis dissecans.