Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Temporomandibular Joints of Children.
OBJECTIVE
To identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in healthy children.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of children younger than 18 years undergoing MRI of the head for non-autoimmune indications at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, GA). Patients with congenital or acquired conditions associated with potential TMJ pathology were excluded. Medical records and MRIs were reviewed to document demographic data. Three neuroradiologists independently recorded specific predetermined MRI findings of the TMJ. The outcome variable was the presence or absence of TMJ findings at MRI. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to identify associations (significant at P ≤ .05).


RESULTS
Eighty-seven patients (54 boys, 33 girls; mean age, 11.2 yr) met the inclusion criteria. Seventy percent of TMJs had condylar enhancement, 64% of joints had glenoid marginal synovial enhancement, 56% had condylar margin synovial enhancement, and 19% had condylar T1 hyperintense signal. There were no joints with condylar erosion, condylar volume loss, or effusion. Findings of normal marrow development were decreased condylar enhancement and greater condylar T1 signal with increased age.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found a greater than 60% prevalence of synovial enhancement in healthy children. In a healthy child, MRI findings of TMJ synovial enhancement should be carefully correlated with a clinical evaluation.
Resident Physician, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Justine S
JS
Moe
Previous Assistant Professor, Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Assistant Professor, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
Nilesh K
NK
Desai
Associate Professor, Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Ashley H
AH
Aiken
Assistant Professor, Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Bruno P
BP
Soares
Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Jian
J
Kang
Assistant Professor, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: sabram5@emory.edu.
Shelly
S
Abramowicz
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D003287:Contrast Media