Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease affecting the maxillofacial region: a case report

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare disorder caused by prions that can affect any part of the central nervous system. It is characterised by an initial non-specific illness of varying duration, followed by progressive neurological decline. We report a patient with sporadic CJD who presented with neurological symptoms and bilateral dislocation of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). To our knowledge this is the first report of sporadic CJD that involved the maxillofacial region. (C) 2009 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.