CORRELATION OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND SURGICAL FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DISORDERS

Purpose: This study compared the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical findings in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Materials and Methods: Forty-three patients and 30 asymptomatic volunteers underwent MRI using the three-dimensional (3D) FISP acquisition technique. The 43 patients (43 joints) then underwent discectomy, and the surgical and MRI findings were correlated. Results: In 28 joints (28 patients), splits surrounded by regions of high-signal intensity were seen in the discs and retrodiscal tissues on MRI. Surgically, a tear was confirmed in 26 (93%) of these joints. Histologically, these areas showed severe myxomatous degeneration. Disc deformity was visualized by MRI in all patients and increases in signal intensity were found in some discs. High-signal intensities also were observed in 30 joint spaces, in which serous joint effusion was confirmed surgically. Conclusion: Pathologic intracapsular changes are accurately depicted by FISP-3D, and this method is particularly useful for diagnosing changes in the disc and retrodiscal tissues.