title: Temporomandibular joint: improved MR image quality with decreased section thickness.
abstract: To determine if the quality of spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) could be improved by reducing section thickness, coronal and sagittal 3.0- and 1.5-mm MR images of the same joints were evaluated. Depiction of the disk, trabecular pattern, and cortex of the condyle was better on coronal 1.5-mm images than on 3.0-mm images (P less than .01), and 1.5-mm sagittal images were better for depiction of the trabecular pattern of the condyle than were 3.0-mm images (P less than .05). The ability of MR imaging with thinner sections to reveal more anatomic details should result in improved diagnostic accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642-8694.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Westesson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Barsotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatala
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paesani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*