MR imaging of the temporomandibular joint: a validation experiment in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The authors compared magnetic resonance (MR) image quality obtained from 3- and 1-mm-thick sections in the depiction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its adjacent structures.


METHODS
Eight TMJ specimens from four adult cadaver heads were depicted with MR imaging. Both 3- and 1-mm-thick sections were generated. One oral and maxillofacial radiologist, who was blinded to section thickness, evaluated the anatomic details of the images. Subsequently, the joints were surgically explored by two oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and the physical findings were recorded.


RESULTS
Some statistically significant differences were found between the physical findings and the 3-mm-thick section images, while no significant differences were found with the 1-mm-thick sections.


CONCLUSIONS
The TMJ and its adjacent structures were better depicted by thinner MR images.
Cavalcanti
M G
MG
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Lew
D
D
Ishimaru
T
T
Ruprecht
A
A
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*