3D superimposition and understanding temporomandibular joint arthritis

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the 3D morphological variations in 169 Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) condyles, using novel imaging statistical modeling approaches. Setting and Sample Population The Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Michigan. Cone beam CT scans were acquired from 69 subjects with long-term TMJ osteoarthritis (OA, mean age 39.1 ± 15.7 years), 15 subjects at initial consult diagnosis of OA (mean age 44.9 ± 14.8 years) and 7 healthy controls (mean age 43 ± 12.4 years). Material & Methods 3D surface models of the condyles were constructed and homologous correspondent points on each model were established. The statistical framework included Direction-Projection-Permutation (DiProPerm) for testing statistical significance of the differences between healthy controls and the OA groups determined by clinical and radiographic diagnoses. Results Condylar morphology in OA and healthy subjects varied widely with categorization from mild to severe bone degeneration or overgrowth. DiProPerm statistics supported a significant difference between the healthy control group and the initial diagnosis of OA group (t=6.6, empirical p-value = 0.006), and between healthy and long term-diagnosis of OA group (t = 7.2, empirical p-value = 0). Compared with healthy controls, the average condyle in OA subjects was significantly smaller in all dimensions, except its anterior surface, even in subjects with initial diagnosis of OA. Conclusion This new statistical modeling of condylar morphology allows the development of more targeted classifications of this condition than previously possible.

Long-term Changes of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis on Computed Tomography

“…Bone changes of the TMJ condyle were qualitatively measured based on visual evaluation of 9 sections of the TMJ condyle. Cevidanes et al 23,24 suggested a 3 dimensional quantification condylar resorption model technique and Ok et al 11 used superimposition with 6-imaginary sections to assess the longitudinal bone change in TMJ OA. Although both methods are suitable to assess TMJ OA, the method applied in this study was sufficient to highlight the importance of cortical bone intactness and also more simple allowing less room for error 13,25 .…”

Diagnostic index: an open-source tool to classify TMJ OA condyles

“…The findings presented in this work reveal that designing imaging biomarkers of TMJ OA need to contemplate the presence of different phenotypic morphology, which was an aspect that our team had investigated before 17 . Our other preliminary studies concentrated in the design of classification methods 18 and were not able to consistently separate among different groups.…”

Relationship of temporomandibular disorders with selected systemic diseases

“…58 Zastosowanie obrazowania jest konieczne, ponieważ same kryteria kliniczne stanowią niewystarczające dane do prawidłowego rozpoznania zapalenia stawów sż, ponadto stwierdzono słabe zależności między występowaniem zmian kostnych a klinicznymi objawami ssż w OA, w tym przypadku zastosowanie CBCT zapewnia czytelną wizualizację twardych tkanek ssż. 57,59 Badanie Kothari i wsp. odnośnie profilowania bólu u pacjentów z bólami stawowymi ssż i pacjentów z chorobą zwyrodnieniową stawów wykazały, że w przypadku pierwszej grupy, przy ocenie funkcji somatosensorycznej…”