Computed tomographic features of bilateral coronoid process hyperplasia with special emphasis on patients without interference between the process and the zygomatic bone

Objective. To reveal computed tomography (CT) features of patients with coronoid process hyperplasia without interference between the process and the zygomatic bone. Study design. A case-control study was designed. Thirteen cases without interference (2 male and 11 female, 28-56 years old) and 65 controls were sampled from a patient database. Differences in CT features were analyzed between the 2 groups regarding the following 7 points of 5 regions: configuration of the coronoid process, vertical level of the coronoid process, the distance between the bilateral zygomatic arches, thickness of the temporal muscle, anteroposterior width of the temporal muscle, thickness of the temporal muscle tendon, and thickness of the masseter muscle. Cluster analysis was applied to differentiate between individuals. Results. All cases had bilateral hyperplastic change of the coronoid process. Differences were found between the cases and controls in 6 of 7 CT features with the exception of temporal muscle thickness. All incidences of significant difference showed larger values in the cases. All cases were clustered into the same group and were differentiated from the controls. Conclusion. CT features appeared to be effective for diagnosis of this condition, and these patients should be put into the same category under the diagnosis of coronoid process hyperplasia.