title: Condylar volume and surface in Caucasian young adult subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been no quantitative standards for volumetric and surface measurements of the mandibular condyle in Caucasian population. However, the recently developed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system allows measurement of these parameters with high accuracy.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT was used to measure the condylar volume, surface and the volume to surface ratio, called the Morphometric Index (MI), of 300 temporo-mandibular joints (TMJ) in 150 Caucasian young adult subjects, with varied malocclusions, without pain or dysfunction of TMJs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The condylar volume was 691.26 ± 54.52 mm3 in males and 669.65 ± 58.80 mm3 in, and was significantly higher (p< 0.001) in the males. The same was observed for the condylar surface, although without statistical significance (406.02 ± 55.22 mm2 in males and 394.77 ± 60.73 mm2 in females).Furthermore, the condylar volume (693.61 ± 62.82 mm3 ) in the right TMJ was significantly higher than in the left (666.99 ± 48.67 mm3, p < 0.001) as was the condylar surface (411.24 ± 57.99 mm2 in the right TMJ and 389.41 ± 56.63 mm2 in the left TMJ; t = 3.29; p < 0.01). The MI is 1.72 ± 0.17 for the whole sample, with no significant difference between males and females or the right and left sides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data from temporomandibular joints of patients without pain or clinical dysfunction might serve as examples of normal TMJ's in the general population not seeking orthodontic care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Science, Nano and Biotechnology, University G,D'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, 66013, Italy. simtecc@unich.it
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tecco
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saccucci
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nucera
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagnoni
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cordasco
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannetti
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult