A mass lesion misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor in the masticator space: a case report

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is common, affecting up to 28 % of the population. Inflammatory conditions, developmental abnormalities, and neoplasms involving the masticator space can result in symptomatic TMD, which may present with signs such as pain and trismus. Because TMD treatments, including surgical management, differ according to the underlying cause, imaging plays an important role in identifying the precise category of TMD. Here, we report a case of an inflammatory lesion in the right cheek of a 47-year-old woman with symptoms of TMD from both clinical and radiographic perspectives. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the present case showed atypical findings for TMD caused by an inflammatory lesion. This knowledge should be added to the list of possible imaging findings in cases exhibiting TMD.