Čes. stomatol. Prakt. zub. lék. (Czech Dental Journal) 2004; 104(4): 160-167

Our Experience with MR Imaging of Temporomandibular Joint

V. Peterová¹, R. Jirman², H. Fikáčková³, J. Mazánek²

¹ MR oddělení, Radiodiagnostická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

² Stomatologická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

³ Oddělení klinické radiobiologie, Ústav biofyziky 1. LF UK, Praha

The aim of this study was to summarize results of the investigation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by magnetic resonance (MR) in various types of its disorders. MR imaging visualizes the bone and soft tissue components of TMJ including the disc and dynamicinvestigation during a gradual mouth opening visualizes the inner movement of the disc indetail. Twenty six patients with TMJ disorders (i.e. 52 TMJ) were investigated in a dynamicstudy during the period 1996-2003. The group consisted of 24 women and 2 men between the ages of 18 and 67 (35.6 years of age on the average). All the patients were examined by means of 1.5 T MR. Pathological MR findings were observed in 92.3 % of investigated TMJ, 78.8% of which represented ventral derrangement of the disc. The affection of mandible head was presentin 7.6% of cases. It can be summed up that the ventral derrangement of the disc with or without repositionrepresented the most frequently observed dysfunction of TMJ. The dynamic investigation of TMJ in FFE mode (in T1 weighted images) was well tolerated by all patients and the methodis appropriate enough for evaluation of the joint dynamics. It visualized the inner translaterotary movement of the head and also the disc movements in single movement phases.

Keywords: temporomandibular joint; MR imaging

Published: December 1, 2004  Show citation