Sir, we recently had the pleasure of seeing an unusual case of bilateral bifid mandibular condyles in a 22-year-old. The patient had suffered a mandibular injury while playing rugby, and there was a slight irregularity in the right condyle on panoramic radiography. A CT scan was subsequently undertaken, which excluded a fracture but highlighted this rare anatomical variation instead (Fig. 1). Bifid condyles are often asymptomatic, but can cause issues such as arthralgia, joint noises, restricted mandibular movement and joint ankylosis in some patients.1 Trifid and even tetrafid variants have been reported.2

Fig. 1
figure 1

Coronal slice of mandibular CT scan, demonstrating heart-shaped bifid condyles

Full size image

Despite Valentine's Day now being behind us, I hope that BDJ readers can appreciate the charming heart-shaped appearance of these bifid condyles, as seen on the CT scan.