title: Assessing joint effusion and bone changes of the head of the mandible in MR images of symptomatic patients.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between degenerative bone changes of the head of the mandible and the presence of joint effusion (JE). This study was based on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports of 148 temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of 74 patients complaining of pain and/or dysfunction in the TMJ area. The mandible heads were surveyed for osteoarthritis characteristics, which were classified as osteophytosis, sclerosis or erosion. The presence of JE was checked whenever high signal intensity was observed in the articular space. The results evidenced the presence of bone changes in 30% of the sample. Osteophytes and erosions were the changes most commonly observed. JE was reported in 10% of TMJs. The results from the statistical tests revealed that bone changes in the head of the mandible are associated with the presence of JE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Univ de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson Xavier de
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Jucely Aparecida da
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Marcelo Eduardo Pereira
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Karina Cecilia Panelli
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Cibelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult