顎関節症患者におけるMR 画像所見と臨床所見の比較検討

Two hundred eighteen (28.4%) of 768 patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), who visited the Clinic for Temporomandibular Disorders, Tokushima University Medical and Dental Hospital during the period of January 2006 through December 2007, were examined using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The present study assessed clinico-statistically the correlation between MR images and the clinical findings of 157 patients with complete registered data in our TMD reporting system. The following findings were obtained:
1. MR imaging showed anterior disk displacement in 125 joints (67.9%), rotational disk displacement in 45 joints (24.5%), and sideways disk displacement in 13 joints (7.1%).
2. Joint effusion (JE) was found in 42.7% of 157 patients; 48.0% in females and 23.5% in males.
In addition, anterior or rotational disk displacement was observed in 97% of patients with JE. Furthermore, condyle bone change was significantly higher in joints with than without JE.
3. The appearance of JE was significantly higher on the symptomatic side than the asymptomatic side, but tenderness of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area or the value of the visual analog scale (VAS) regarding pain and problems in daily life was not related to the presence of JE.