Direct coronal high resolution computed tomography of the temporomandibular joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Direct coronal high resolution computed tomography (CT) examination of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) was performed in 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 included patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Four patients of this group had disability of the TMJ associated with overgrowth of one of the mandibular condyles. This phenomenon has not yet been reported. Group 2 consisted of 10 patients with RA with clinically asymptomatic TMJ, 4 of whom had mild erosions of the condylar head seen on CT, consistent with RA. The majority of patients in Group 3, with clinically symptomatic TMJ showed CT changes of various degrees, which are discussed in this paper. Mild bone changes, not demonstrated by conventional procedures, were clearly seen by CT. Coronal view of the CT examination had advantages over other projections.