title: Temporomandibular joint: correlation between single-contrast videoarthrography and postmortem morphology.
abstract: Arthrography of the temporomandibular joint is widely performed in clinical practice. The diagnostic accuracy of this technique has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, findings from transcranial single-contrast, lower-compartment videoarthrography of 58 temporomandibular joint autopsy specimens were correlated with postmortem morphology. Arthrographic diagnosis of disk position and perforation was confirmed in 47 joints (81%). Misinterpretations were made in 11 joints; nine concerned disk position and two concerned perforation. Analysis of the misinterpretations revealed that inability of arthrography to allow differentiation of lateral from medial resulted in four false-negative diagnoses and one false-positive diagnosis. Variation of joint anatomy with disk deformation resulted in four false-positive diagnoses of anterior disk position. The number of false diagnoses in clinical practice might be reduced if transcranial single-contrast, lower-compartment videoarthrography is followed by multilayer arthrotomography in cases with an unclear diagnosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D003287:Contrast Media; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media