Abstract
A case of acute suppurative arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a 63-year-old man is reported.
The patient visited our hospital because of severe pain in the right TMJ. On examination, trismus and slight deviation of the mandible to the opposite side were found. MR imaging of the joint revealed a high-intensity area in the upper joint cavity of the right joint, which suggested the diagnosis. Approximately 0.8ml of pus was aspirated by puncture from the upper joint cavity, however, bacterial culture of the pus was negative. Treatment with antiinflammatory drugs and opening mouth exercises yielded excellent results.
