Radiographic Evaluation of Pneumatized Articular Eminence in Turkish Children

Objectives:Pneumatized articular eminence (PAT) is an air cell cavity present in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone that is similar to air cells in the mastoid process and ethmoid bone. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and variations of PAT among a general pediatric dental clinic population . Methods:1049 panoramic radiographs were retrospectively investigated. PAT was defined as nonexpansile, nondestructive cyst-like radiolucency in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which appears similar to the mastoid air cells, and was classified two groups as unilocular and multilocular on the radiograph. Statistical comparison of sex, age distribution in patients with and without PAT was performed using Pearson's chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test. The left side and right side PAT distributions were compared using the Wilcoxon test. Results:The age range of the patients was 4 to 16 years of age. PAT was found in 17 patients (1.62 %) with a mean age of 10.9 (s.d 3.33) years. Eight cases (47.1 %) occurred in females and nine cases (52,9%) occurred in males. Bilateral PAT was found in 7 patients. The results of statistical tests showed no statistically significant differences among the groups of age, gender, localization (p<0.05). Conclusions:Pathologic processes such as Acute otitis media (AOM), Otomastoiditis which was occurred in this region may cause destruction of the bony barriers and resulting the spread of the infections through surrounding areas. An estimated 30 million AOM cases occurred in 1996 all around the world. Knowledge about these structures is helpful for the interpretation of imaging such as panoramic radiographs and provides valuable information to understand the spread and differential diagnosis of pathological entities in this region.