Evaluation of disk position and prevalence of internal derangement, in a sample of the elderly, by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess disk position and the prevalence of disk displacement (DD) in a sample of the elderly by use of contrast agent-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Thirty subjects (73-75 years old) were drawn from a representative sample and examined clinically. The position and contours of the temporomandibular disk was assessed by using gadolinium-enhanced MR images which were evaluated by 2 independent raters. Statistical assessment was performed by using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests.


RESULTS
Agreement between raters with respect to disk position was excellent. The MRI showed that 8 subjects (27%; 2 men, 6 women) had DD.


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinum-enhanced MRI showed that DD is common in the elderly (27%) and that DD occurs more frequently in women than in men. In women without DD the disk is positioned more anteriorly than in men.
Schmitter
Marc
M
Department of Prosthodontics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. marc_schmitter@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Rammelsberg
Peter
P
Hassel
Alexander
A
Schroeder
Johannes
J
Seneadza
Viktoria
V
Balke
Zibendeh
Z
Essig
Marco
M
D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology*
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA