Abstract
T2 relaxation time is a quantitative MR imaging parameter used to detect degenerated cartilage in the knee and lumbar intervertebral disks. We measured the T2 relaxation time of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint in patients with temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic volunteers to demonstrate an association between T2 relaxation time and temporomandibular disorder MR imaging findings. One hundred forty-four patients with temporomandibular disorders and 17 volunteers were enrolled in this study. An 8-echo spin-echo sequence for measuring the T2 relaxation times was performed in the closed mouth position, and the T2 relaxation time of the entire articular disk was measured. Patients were classified according to the articular disk location and function, articular disk configuration, presence of joint effusion, osteoarthritis, and bone marrow abnormalities. The T2 relaxation time of the entire articular disk was 29.3 ± 3.8 ms in the volunteer group and 30.7 ± 5.1 ms in the patient group (P = .177). When subgroups were analyzed, however, the T2 relaxation times of the entire articular disk in the anterior disk displacement without reduction group, the marked or extensive joint effusion group, the osteoarthritis-positive group, and the bone marrow abnormality-positive group were significantly longer than those in the volunteer group (P < .05). The T2 relaxation times of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint in patients with progressive temporomandibular disorders were longer than those of healthy volunteers.
Highlights
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSET2 relaxation time is a quantitative MR imaging parameter used to detect degenerated cartilage in the knee and lumbar intervertebral disks
In patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), most joints showed a normal articular disk position and function followed by anterior disk displacement without reduction, a biconcave disk, and no or minimal fluid for joint effusion and were negative for osteoarthritis and bone marrow abnormalities
Intraobserver reproducibility by using the coefficient of variation of the T2 relaxation times of the entire articular disk in the healthy volunteers ranged from 1.1% to 4.7%
Summary
The aims of this study were to measure the T2 relaxation time of the articular disk of the TMJ in patients with TMD and asymptomatic volunteers to demonstrate any association between T2 relaxation time and MR image findings of TMD
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