Assessment of the Thickness of the Roof of the Glenoid Fossa Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Asymptomatic Korean Adult Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) in Korean adult population without symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: CBCT Data from 111 Korean adult patients aged ≥25 years (55 males and 56 females) without signs and symptoms of TMD were analyzed retrospectively in this study. The thickness of the RGF was determined as the perpendicular distance between the 'glenoid fossa line' and 'middle cranial fossa line' on parasagittal and paracoronal reconstructions, respectively. The thickness of the RGF according to sex and age was analyzed using t-tests (p<0.05). Differences were also examined between the right and left sides, and between the paracoronal and parasagittal sides. Results: The mean thickness of the RGF in all subjects was 0.75±0.39 mm; there was no significant difference in thickness between male (0.78±0.36 mm) and female (0.72±0.30 mm). We found no correlation between age and the mean thickness of the RGF, when age was grouped by decade. However, when subjects were divided into >40 years and ≤40 years age groups, the thickness of the RGF was significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: We found that the thickness of the RGF did not differ by sex, but might be affected by aging. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects are needed to confirm the results of this study.

Assessment of the Thickness of the Roof of the Glenoid Fossa Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Orthognathic Surgery Patients: A Preliminary Study

“…All quantitative variables are described as means±standard deviations. In a previous study [8], intraand interexaminer agreement with respect to RGF thickness was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient.…”

“…Images of the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone were edited using three-dimensional imaging software (OnDemand3D; CyberMed Co., Seoul, Korea). As in a previous study [8], the images were reconstructed based on the angle of the condylar head. Paracoronal sections were obtained parallel to the horizontal axis of the condylar head, and parasagittal sections were reconstructed parallel to the line connecting the center point of the condylar head with the coronoid process (1 mm slice thickness, 1 mm slice interval).…”

“…The method used for measuring RGF thickness was the same as in previous studies [8]. Measurements were obtained on images of the central region of the glenoid fossa in parasagittal and paracoronal sections using G3 software (Infinitt Healthcare, Seoul, Korea).…”

“…RGF thickness was measured three times, by one investigator, at the thinnest part of the glenoid fossa among multiple slices, with the mean value calculated for statistical analysis. The same examiner measured the thickness of the RGF, in the same way as in a previous study [8], therefore, interexaminer agreement was not assessed in this study.…”

“…We suspect that not only changes in the condyle, but also in the morphology of the glenoid fossa, could be caused by orthognathic surgery. A previous study determined that the thickness of the RGF is clinically important [8]. This study evaluated changes in the glenoid fossa following orthognathic surgery using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).…”