Ultrasonographic evaluation of disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint compared with magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
We compared high-resolution ultrasonography with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as the gold standard, to evaluate lateral and anterior capsule-condyle distances to detect disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint.


METHODS
This study included 28 patients (19 female and 9 male; age range, 16-51 years; mean age, 32.82 years), and in total, 56 joints were assessed with ultrasonography and MRI. Measurements were obtained for anterior capsule-condyle and lateral capsule-condyle distances in both open- and closed-mouth positions with high-resolution ultrasonography. These findings were also compared with those of MRI taken as reference. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess our results. We assessed sensitivities, specificities, accuracies, and positive and negative predictive values for both open- and closed-mouth positions.


RESULTS
Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonographic anterior capsule-condyle distance in the closed-mouth position to detect MRI-positive disc displacement (area under receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.689; P = .015) was the highest.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of the distance between the most anterior point of the articular capsule and the most anterior point of the condyle can be used to assess disc displacement in diseased joints. However, it is necessary to determine the most accurate threshold value and to set cutoff values. These findings need to be confirmed by further research in a large number of patients to test the interexaminer agreement and the reproducibility of this method.
Cakir-Ozkan
Nilüfer
N
Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Faculty, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey. nfozkan@hotmail.com
Sarikaya
Başar
B
Erkorkmaz
Unal
U
Aktürk
Yeliz
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult