PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the clinical symptoms of temporomandibular disorder and findings in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and MRI images were collected from a total of 240 German patients. Clinical symptoms were briefed as joint clicking, crepitus and pain. MRI findings were further defined according to the condyle position, condyle degeneration, disc positon, disc degeneration and the presence of osteophyte/sclerosis/synovitis. Hypermobility was separately recorded. Correlation analysis between parameters was performed. RESULT: Joint clicking had a positive correlation with unilateral disc degeneration, osteophyte, sclerosis and synovitis. Crepitus had a significant correlation with bilateral osteophyte. Pain was not correlated with any MRI findings except hypermobility. CONCLUSION: Selective correlations between the MRI findings and clinical symptoms were elucidated. The results of this study imply that condyle-disc deformities could be advanced without pain, and that joint clicking and crepitus could be clinical symptoms of condyle-disc degeneration.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Osteophyte ; Sclerosis ; Synovitis ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Temporomandibular Joint*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the mandibular asymmetry and the internal derangement of temporomandibular joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty eight patients had been assessed through clinical examinations, panoramic radi-ographs and magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs), were selected. The samples were classified into three subgroups according to the severity of the mandibular asymmetries in the panoramic radiographs and the status of TMJ discs on the MRI were compared among each groups. RESULTS: In an apparent asymmetry group, there was a significant difference in the number of temporomandibular disk displacement without reduction between the long and short side (66.7%, 18/27 joints on the short side) when the ratio of condylar process and coro-noid process was used (P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference when the ratio of condyle and ramus was used. CONCLUSION: The probability of the disc displacement without reduction was higher at the side with relatively shorter condylar process on the panoramic radiograph, and also it might be more effective to use ratio of condylar process and coronoid process in the assessment of mandibular asymmetry. Therefore, a careful assessment on the temporomandibular disorders is necessary to diagnose and establish the treatment plans for the patients with a mandibular asymmetry and the panoramic radiograph can be used effectively on that way.
Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Temporomandibular Joint*