Early diagnosis of temporomandibular joint involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a pilot study comparing clinical examination and ultrasound to magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To study the validity of both rheumatological and orthodontic examinations and ultrasound (US) as screening methods for early diagnosis of TMJ arthritis against the gold standard MRI.


METHODS
Thirty consecutive juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients were included in this pilot study. Rheumatological and orthodontic examinations as well as US were performed within 1 month of the MRI in a blinded fashion. Joint effusion and/or increased contrast enhancement of synovium or bone were considered signs of active arthritis on MRI.


RESULTS
A total of 19/30 (63%) patients and 33/60 (55%) joints had signs of TMJ involvement on MRI. This was associated with condylar deformity in 9/19 (47%) patients and 15/33 (45%) joints. Rheumatological, orthodontic and US examinations correctly diagnosed 11 (58%), 9 (47%) and 6 (33%) patients, respectively, with active TMJ arthritis, but misdiagnosed 8 (42%), 10 (53%) and 12 (67%) patients, respectively, as having no signs of inflammation. The best predictor for active arthritis on MRI was a reduced maximum mouth opening.


CONCLUSIONS
None of the methods tested was able to reliably predict the presence or absence of MRI-proven inflammation in the TMJ in our cohort of JIA patients. US was the least useful of all methods tested to exclude active TMJ arthritis.
Müller
Lukas
L
Clinic for Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Kellenberger
Christian J
CJ
Cannizzaro
Elvira
E
Ettlin
Dominik
D
Schraner
Thomas
T
Bolt
Isabel B
IB
Peltomäki
Timo
T
Saurenmann
Rotraud K
RK
D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009970:Orthodontics; D010808:Physical Examination; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012219:Rheumatology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography