[Investigation on disc position of the temporomandibular joint in asymptomatic volunteers by magnetic resonance imaging].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the types of disc position of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and their relationship with age and gender in asymptomatic volunteers by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
A total of 100 asymptomatic volunteers were divided into 5 groups (11-, 21-, 31-, 41-, 51 - 60 years old), 10 male and 10 female were included in each group. A total of 200 TMJs were scanned with Siemens Trio Tim 3.0T MRI system oblique-sagittally at closed- and open-mouth positions. Visual evaluation of MR images were performed on 3 neighbour slices of each TMJ (lateral, central, medial).


RESULTS
There was a normal disc-condyle relationship in 59 of the 100 asymptomatic subjects. The normal disc position, anterior disc displacement and insidious anterior disc displacement (IADD) were observed in 140 (70.0%), 14(7.0%) and 46(23.0%)joints respectively, which showed no significant differences among different age groups or between genders (P > 0.05). The maximum mouth opening of the 100 asymptomatic volunteers was (46.3 +/- 5.5) mm, with no significant difference among the various types of disc position (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Disc displacement does exist in the asymptomatic volunteers, however, its occurrence is not associated with age and gender. IADD is the main type of the disc displacement in asymptomatic volunteers. There is no close relationship between the imaging manifestation of the disc displacement and clinical symptoms.
Zhang
Juan
J
Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain, Peking University School, Beijing 100081, China.
Ma
Xu-chen
XC
Jin
Zhen
Z
Zhao
Yan-ping
YP
Meng
Juan-hong
JH
Zeng
Ya-wei
YW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology*