The Kobe journal of medical sciences
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Case Reports
Two cases of masticator space abscess initially diagnosed as temporomandibular joint disorder.
Diseases causing trismus or pain of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) include temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD), trauma, tumors and an inflammation. This report describes two cases of masticator space abscesses causing trismus and TMJ pain, which were initially diagnosed as TMJD. The first case was a 62-year-old female suffering from trismus and right-TMJ pain without swelling or redness, which was diagnosed as TMJD with MRI (TMJ region) findings of bilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction. ⋯ Therefore an intraoral incision was performed under general anesthesia and antibiotics were administered. She recovered well and was discharged from hospital on the 12th day. When we treat TMJD, we must keep in mind the possibility of the inapparent presence of some unseen inflammation, especially an abscess formation in the masticator space.