Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2019 Sep;128(3):311-318. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2019.02.005. Epub 2019 Feb 13.
The aims of this study were to compare the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) retrodiscal tissue T2 relaxation times between patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and asymptomatic volunteers and to assess the diagnostic potential of this approach.
Patients with TMD (n = 173) and asymptomatic volunteers (n = 17) were examined by using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance scanner. The imaging protocol consisted of oblique sagittal, T2-weighted, 8-echo fast spin echo sequences in the closed mouth position. Retrodiscal tissue T2 relaxation times were obtained. Additionally, disc location and reduction, disc configuration, joint effusion, osteoarthritis, and bone edema or osteonecrosis were classified using MRI scans. The T2 relaxation times of each group were statistically compared.
Retrodiscal tissue T2 relaxation times were significantly longer in patient groups than in asymptomatic volunteers (P < .01). T2 relaxation times were significantly longer in all of the morphologic categories. The most important variables affecting retrodiscal tissue T2 relaxation times were disc configuration, joint effusion, and osteoarthritis.
Retrodiscal tissue T2 relaxation times of patients with TMD were significantly longer than those of healthy volunteers. This finding may lead to the development of a diagnostic marker to aid in the early detection of TMDs.
本研究旨在比较颞下颌关节（TMJ）盘后组织 T2 弛豫时间在患有颞下颌关节紊乱病（TMD）的患者与无症状志愿者之间的差异，并评估该方法的诊断潜力。
使用 1.5-T 磁共振扫描仪对 TMD 患者（n=173）和无症状志愿者（n=17）进行检查。成像方案包括闭口状态下的斜矢状位、T2 加权、8 回波快速自旋回波序列。获得盘后组织 T2 弛豫时间。此外，使用 MRI 扫描对椎间盘位置和复位、椎间盘形态、关节积液、骨关节炎以及骨水肿或骨坏死进行分类。对每组的 T2 弛豫时间进行统计学比较。
患者组的盘后组织 T2 弛豫时间明显长于无症状志愿者组（P<.01）。所有形态类别中的 T2 弛豫时间均明显较长。影响盘后组织 T2 弛豫时间的最重要变量是椎间盘形态、关节积液和骨关节炎。
TMD 患者的盘后组织 T2 弛豫时间明显长于健康志愿者。这一发现可能会导致开发一种诊断标志物，以帮助早期发现 TMD。
