Spontaneous Temporomandibular Joint Herniation Into the External Auditory Canal Through a Persistent Foramen Tympanicum (Huschke)

• DOI: 10.1097/rct.0b013e318272ef04
• Publication Date: 2013-01-15T11:49:24Z
• Authors: Tatsuhiko Nakasato; Tetsuo Nakayama; Koyo Kikuchi; Shigeru Ehara; Hisashi Ohtsuka; Koji Fukuda; Hiroaki Sato
• Keywords: Foramen

Persistent foramen tympanicum (Huschke) is an anatomical variation located in the anteroinferior portion of external auditory canal. We present a case symptomatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) herniation into canal though enlarged osseous defect. The herniated retrodiscal TMJ tissue moved backward when patient’s mouth was closed, and forward, opened. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were useful for differentiating from salivary fistula caused by ectopic gland.