Comparison of transcranial radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of mandibular condyle position.
OBJECTIVE
Several image modalities have been used to assess the condylar position in the glenoid fossa. However, despite the development of more advanced techniques for imaging the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the transcranial projection remains widely used in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to compare the condylar position in transcranial radiography (TRANS) with MRI.


METHODS
70 matched pairs of TMJs (35 patients) who had undergone TRANS and MRI were evaluated. The TRANS scans were compared with the lateral, central and medial MRI scans, and the condylar position was assessed in the closed and open mouth position according to subjective and objective methods. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values were calculated for each group and Bowker's test was used to analyse the data.


RESULTS
There was no statistical significance between TRANS and MRI (P > 0.05). However, even though there were similar mean values between them, the comparison with the lateral image showed higher values, which might be due to TRANS representing the lateral one-third of the condyle.


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that TRANS seems to be an acceptable method and its applicability as an adjunctive method in the condylar position should not be rejected.
Menezes
A V
AV
Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba - UNICAMP, Brazil. alynnev@yahoo.com.br
de Almeida
S M
SM
Bóscolo
F N
FN
Haiter-Neto
F
F
Ambrosano
G M B
GM
Manzi
F R
FR
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014716:Vertical Dimension