Chondrocalcinosis of the temporomandibular joint. A parotid pseudotumor
J. Zemplenyi and T. C. Calcaterra
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.
