A case of Mönckeberg's sclerosis of the facial artery with orofacial pain

Abstract

Mönckeberg's sclerosis is a non-inflammatory vascular disease characterized by calcification of muscular arteries. However, the relation between the symptoms and clinical features of this disease in the oral and maxillofacial region is unclear. We report a case of Mönckeberg's sclerosis of the facial artery accompanied by orofacial pain. An 81-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of pain associated with her denture in November 2013. A hard tissue lesion with a diameter of 10 mm was palpable on the right lower border of the mandible. Computed tomography showed a radiopaque region (30 × 5 mm) on the lateral aspect of the mandibular body. The clinical diagnosis was calcified sclerosis of the right facial artery, and resection of the lesion of the right calcified facial artery was performed with the patient under general anesthesia in December 2013. Postoperatively, the contact pain disappeared. Surgery is indicated for Mönckeberg's sclerosis of the facial artery accompanied by orofacial pain.