Does professional background influence in temporomandibular joint tissues evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging?

Abstract

Context: Imaging examinations afford more consistent details than clinical evaluation in the investigation process and make the differential diagnosis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMDs) easier. Aims: This study aimed to check agreement among professionals from different fields of work evaluating TMDs using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and based on ten diagnoses criteria: Position, shape and recapture of joint disk, joint mobility, degenerative changes, bone changes, condyle position, effusion, intramedullary edema, and avascular necrosis. Methods: An oral and maxillofacial radiologist, a medical radiologist, and a dental surgeon specialized in TMD and orofacial pain interpreted 152 MRI taken from 76 patients. A scenario simulating daily activities was devised, which neither calibration nor discussion of criteria was assessed. Interobserver agreement was measured using the Kappa coefficient. Results: Poor agreement was observed in avascular necrosis; a slight agreement was recorded in form and position of the joint disk, condyle position, effusion; fair agreement in TMJ mobility and disk recapture; moderate to almost perfect agreement in condylar changes, degenerative changes, and intramedullary edema. Conclusion: Professionals from different areas that interpret TMJ disorders using MRI did not agree on the diagnoses, especially for the soft-tissue changes.