Magnetic Resonance Signal Intensity from Retrodiscal Tissue Related to Joint Effusion Status and Disc Displacement in Elderly Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) has revealed that a decrease and/or increase in signal intensity from retrodiscal tissue, joint effusion (the excessive accumulation of joint fluid) and articular disc displacement are related to TMD. However, the effect of aging on these phenomena has yet to be clarified. This study was carried out to explore the relationship between changes in signal intensity from retrodiscal tissue, joint fluid status and pathological disc conditions in elderly patients with TMD. Twenty patients aged over 60 years were examined. They consisted of one man and 19 women, and ranged between 60 and 79 years in age (mean, 66.0 years). The relationships between decreased signal intensity on proton-density-weighted (PDW) images and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted (T2W) MR images from retrodiscal tissue, joint fluid status and state of articular disc were examined. Joint fluid status was classified into 5 levels by extent of high signal areas in upper and lower articular spaces on T2W images. Disc displacement status was evaluated by PDW images. The Wilcoxon test was applied for the statistical analysis. The group showing increased T2W signal intensities from the retrodiscal tissue consisted of 31 out of 40 joints (77.5%). This group showed a significant difference in comparison with the other groups in which no apparent joint fluid was shown (pϽ0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among other categories. The results suggest a negative relationship between joint fluid and increased signal intensity from retrodiscal tissue due to reflection of the inflammatory reaction in TM joints.

Evaluation of the presence of effusion in patients with temporomandibular joint disorder

“…Similarly, several studies divided the levels of effusion into four or five groups (4,20,21,26). In this study, the 'present'/'absent' approach used by Manfredini et al was used (11).…”

Individual variations in the vascular content of retrodiscal tissue in the temporomandibular joint: a study using histological sections of human foetuses and magnetic resonance images of adults without pathology

“…Higher T2 signal intensity, due to a richer vascular supply, has been observed in the retrodiscal tissue of painful compared to painless TMJs [2,22,25]. Moreover, Kober et al [12] and Ohkubo et al [17] compared the open-and closed-mouth positions, and found that the former was better for showing the vascular content of the retrodiscal tissue. In the present study, inter-individual differences in vascular content, as shown by MR imaging, did not appear to be significant in normal young adults.…”

Diagnostic reproducibility of temporomandibular joint using magnetic resonance imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 Tesla

“…Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been described as the method of choice to assess temporomandibular joint (TMJ) soft tissues [1][2][3][4] . MRI is also useful to examine cortical bone, producing results that can be compared in quality to computed tomography (CT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), allowing the examination of both hard and soft TMJ tissues in one single image method [5][6][7] . The TMJ conditions usually evaluated in MRI are position and shape of the joint disc.…”