title: MR Imaging of the Temporomandibular Joint in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Technique and Findings.
abstract: The term juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) encompasses a group of arthritides of unknown cause that begin before 16 years of age and last for at least 6 weeks. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement has been described in up to 87% of children with JIA and has been associated with all JIA subtypes. TMJ involvement is difficult to detect clinically. In one study, 71% of JIA patients with active TMJ synovitis were asymptomatic and 63% had normal physical examination results. Moreover, the main growth center of the mandible is located in the condyle, separated from the joint space by only a thin layer of fibrocartilage. This makes mandibular growth vulnerable to arthritic changes, eventually resulting in facial asymmetry and retrognathia. Therefore, early detection and treatment of TMJ arthritis are paramount to preserving motility and preventing deformity. As clinical symptoms and physical examination results are not good markers of TMJ involvement, imaging plays a key role in diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Magnetic resonance imaging is the technique of choice for the study of TMJ arthritis. It has the advantages of displaying both soft tissue and bone, is the most sensitive technique for detecting acute synovitis, and is the only one able to demonstrate bone marrow edema. In addition, it allows the assessment of changes to the joint over time and evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.©RSNA, 2017.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (M.N., E.J.I.), Rheumatology (E.I., J.A.), and Rehabilitation (N.R.), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain (G.Y.C.L.).
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navallas
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (M.N., E.J.I.), Rheumatology (E.I., J.A.), and Rehabilitation (N.R.), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain (G.Y.C.L.).
authors.forename: Emilio J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Inarejos
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (M.N., E.J.I.), Rheumatology (E.I., J.A.), and Rehabilitation (N.R.), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain (G.Y.C.L.).
authors.forename: Estíbaliz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (M.N., E.J.I.), Rheumatology (E.I., J.A.), and Rehabilitation (N.R.), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain (G.Y.C.L.).
authors.forename: Gui Youn
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Cho Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (M.N., E.J.I.), Rheumatology (E.I., J.A.), and Rehabilitation (N.R.), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain (G.Y.C.L.).
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (M.N., E.J.I.), Rheumatology (E.I., J.A.), and Rehabilitation (N.R.), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain (G.Y.C.L.).
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antón
mesh_terms: D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*