MRI of the temporomandibular joint disk and posterior disk attachment before and after nonsurgical treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to investigate the role of serial dynamic contrast-enhanced SPGR MRI in the nonsurgical follow-up of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.


METHODS
Ten patients (10 joints) with internal derangement of the TMJ were imaged with T1-weighted SE and serial postgadolinium SPGR MR pulse sequences.


RESULTS
On T1-weighted images prior to treatment, the disk position was normal in one joint and anteriorly displaced without reduction in nine joints. After treatment, the disk remained normally positioned in one joint, was anteriorly displaced without reduction in eight joints, and was anteriorly displaced with reduction in one joint. The dynamic study after treatment showed a decrease in contrast enhancement of the posterior disk attachment in 7 of 10 joints. These seven patients had resolution or reduction in joint pain.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest an association between a decrease in contrast enhancement of the posterior disk attachment and resolution or reduction in joint pain. This association was much stronger than the association between the clinical findings and the anatomy of the disk.
Suenaga
S
S
Department of Dental Radiology, Kagoshima University Dental School, Japan.
Sonoda
S
S
Oku
T
T
Abeyama
K
K
Noikura
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery