Assessment of MRI findings and clinical symptoms in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders

Abstract

DDWOR and high-grade joint effusion (an indicator of inflammation in the articular cavity) were associated with TMD symptoms. This finding suggests that treatment strategy for DDWOR and decreasing inflammation might lessen clinical TMD symptoms. Condylar degeneration was not associated with indicators of inflammation or TMJ symptoms. These results suggest that patients with TMD symptoms should undergo initial MRI to allow rapid selection of appropriate therapies.

Annual review of selected scientific literature: A report of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

“…Correlations among MRI findings in the TMJ were comprehensively analyzed in a large number of patients in this study. 269 Biconcave disc configuration correlated strongly with normal disc position, as previously reported. Positive correlations were found between DDWOR and folded disc and between DDWR and flattened disc.…”

“…This finding suggests that condylar degeneration is not related to inflammatory conditions in the articular cavity. 269 Patients with TMJ pain had higher ORs for DDWOR, bone marrow edema, and high-grade joint effusion. These findings suggest that abnormalities in the articular cavity and condylar bone marrow cause TMJ pain.…”

“…Matsubara et al 269 explored the assessment of MRI finding and clinical symptoms in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) present with characteristic clinical signs and symptoms, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and facial pain, joint noise, and irregular jaw movement.…”

“…An evaluation of the relationships between TMD symptoms and MRI findings with detailed classifications may reveal which symptoms warrant MRI examination, thus reducing unnecessary radiographic examinations before MRI. The aim of this study 269 was to comprehensively assess the correlations among various MRI findings, including disc configuration, disc position, condylar morphology, bone marrow signal pattern, and joint effusion, and the relationships between symptoms of TMD and MRI findings in a relatively large number of patients.…”

What Role Does Synovitis Play in Craniomandibular Dysfunction (CMD)? A 3T-MRI Study

“…However, a series of MRI studies addressed the importance of temporomandibular joint effusion and its connection to other pathological joint findings. A clear connection between joint effusion and osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint [16] and between joint effusion and disc displacement (particularly without repositioning in a functional position) was seen [17]. There was also a close connection between joint effusion and bone marrow edema in the capitulum in clinical pain syndrome [18].…”