What Is Masseter Myositis?

Masseter myositis causes jaw pain.

Masseter myositis refers to a muscular problem of the jaw. It is rare in humans and is more common in dogs. Masseter myositis requires surgery to fix it.

The Masseter Muscle

The masseter muscle is attached to the jaw.

The masseter muscle helps the jaw to move. It is connected to the cheekbone and the base of the jaw. The muscle holds the jaw up and is extremely powerful.

Myositis

Myositis affects the muscles.

Myositis is a process in which large cells cause the spaces between muscle fibers to expand. This is caused by the connective tissue between the fibers containing reactive cells, often ganglion-like cells. Ganglion-like cells are large and tend to cluster, causing this connective tissue to expand and grow. In most cases, the growth is exponential.

Masseter Myosis

Masseter myositis makes it almost impossible to open the jaw.

When masseter myositis occurs, the masseter muscle quickly expands. It is tender and difficult, if not impossible, to move. Masseter myositis may be caused by overuse of the muscle, infection or trauma to the muscle. Swelling caused by masseter myositis is extreme enough that it should be visible, and attempts to open the jaw wider than the swollen muscle will allow will quickly become painful. You should see your doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms.

Treatment

Masseter myositis requires surgery.

Because masseter myositis involves a swelling of the connecting tissue between the fibers of the masseter muscle, it usually requires surgical treatment. Your doctor will examine your case. You will probably be sent to a specialist who will decide whether surgery is necessary and how invasive the surgery should be. Masseter myositis is relatively rare, but proliferative myositis of other muscles is not, meaning that any surgeon should be well practiced in the procedure.

Considerations

Go and see your doctor for any symptoms.

Remember to tell your doctor if you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of masseter myositis. The issue will generally not go away and will continue to get worse. As the muscle tends to expand quickly, it may not take long before the condition begins to adversely affect your everyday life. If caught early on, there may be treatments that your doctor can recommend that will ease the pain and swelling of the jaw.

References

• PubMed.gov: Proliferative Myositis of the Masseter Muscle
• Stanford School of Medicine: Proliferative Myositis
• University of Michigan Medical School: Anatomy Tables--Infratemporal Fossa & Oral Cavity

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish