Flattening of the articular eminence correlates with progressive internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that flattening of the slope of the articular eminence occurs with progressive internal derangement (ID) of the TMJ.


METHODS
MR images of 170 TMJs in 130 patients with proven disk displacement were studied. The correlation between the prevalence of a flattened articular eminence and radiological stage of ID was analysed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of a flattened articular eminence was significantly higher in the joints with advanced ID (Mann-Whitney's U-test, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that a flattening of the slope of the articular eminence occurs as a result of remodeling or degenerative changes secondary to ID.
Kurita
H
H
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Ohtsuka
A
A
Kobayashi
H
H
Kurashina
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology