Clinical impact of radiological examinations of patients with suspected temporomandibular disorders.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the proportion and diagnostic value of different imaging techniques when investigating patients with suspected temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Out of 396 patients referred to a specialist clinic of stomatognathic physiology, information from radiological examinations was available in 285 patients (72%) at first examination or obtained during the course of treatment. The most common radiographic examination was panoramic radiography. Radiological findings with some clinical importance were made in one-fourth of the 285 patients. In another 11% of these patients, additional radiological findings not judged to be associated with the TMD but in need of therapeutic measures, were made. In 72 patients information from more extensive examinations such as transcranial projections of the TMJs, conventional tomography of the TMJs, CT images and MRT images were performed during the course of treatment. In 63% of these patients, the extended examinations revealed findings of clinical significance for the TMD diagnosis and/or treatment. It is concluded that panoramic radiography has a diagnostic value when investigating patients with suspected TMD. Because of this, and since the effective radiation dose is small for this exposure, and since also no findings on the panoramic radiographs can be an important information, extended use of this examination can be recommended in patients referred to a specialist clinic because of suspected TMD. The need for more extended radiological examinations in TMD patients is limited and should always be based on individual information from the patient's history and/or clinical findings.
Magnusson
Tomas
T
Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, Institute for Postgraduate Dental Education, Jönköping, Sweden. tomas.magnusson@ltjkpg.se
Karlsson
Christina
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray