Synovial osteochondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint. An historical review with presentation of 3 cases.

Loose bodies in joints have long held the fascination of surgeons and their recognition clearly enjoys a most distinguished antiquity (Pare, 1558; Haller, 1764; Barwell, 1876; Halstead, 1895) despite the rarity of their occurrence. This paper presents an historical review of the subject in conjunction with a report of three cases operated upon by one of the authors (JdeBN). The results have been critically reviewed by pathologists with a catholicity of experience in the field. The condition is singularly uncommon in the jaw joint, and must rank with synovial cyst and para-articular chondroma as an unusual cause of a swelling of firstly the temporomandibular joint and secondly the parotid gland. Earlier workers recognized the value of comparative pathology to illustrate the nature of a genus of tumours and it is educative to read the following: "A good physiological type for the loose cartilaginous bodies which infest joints is furnished by the temporomandibular joint of the skate. A recess communicating with this articular cavity usually contains a collection of smooth cartilaginous bodies, in contour and size like melon seeds." Bland-Sutton (1907).