Bilateral hyperplasia of the coronoid process in pediatric patients

Objectives: To present an international literature review on the coronoid hyperplasia in pediatric patients, describing the etiology, the diagnosis and the therapeutic options. Materials and methods: A systematic revision of the international literature has been done on Medline database (www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pubmed). Keywords chosen were: "bilateral coronoid hyperplasia", "coronoid process", "temporomandibular joint ankylosis", "coronoid hyperplasia and treatment", "pediatric patients". Results: Among the pathogenetic factors, there are: temporalis muscle hyperactivity, genetic inheritance, hormonal stimulus, temporomandibular joint dysfunctions, traumas and persistent coronoid cartilage growth centre. The main symptoms are: mandibular hypomobility, alterations in protrusion and in lateral mandibular movements and muscular dystonia. Orthopantomography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are the diagnostic gold standards. The most widely surgical treatment used is coronoidectomy. Conclusions: On the scientific evidences present in literature it's possible to conclude that, being coronoid hyperplasia a frequent pediatric condition, an early diagnosis is important to restore stomatognathic multifunctions as soon as possible.