Jo Gyu-Dong, Jeon Kug Jin, Choi Yoon Joo, Lee Chena, Han Sang-Sun
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Oral Science Research Center, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Eur Radiol. 2025 Sep 25. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-12029-7.
To evaluate the diagnostic interchangeability, image quality, and scan time of deep learning (DL)-reconstructed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with conventional MRI for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Patients with suspected TMJ disorder underwent sagittal proton density-weighted (PDW) and T2-weighted fat-suppressed (T2W FS) MRI using both conventional and DL reconstruction protocols in a single session. Three oral radiologists independently assessed disc shape, disc position, and joint effusion. Diagnostic interchangeability for these findings was evaluated by comparing interobserver agreement, with equivalence defined as a 95% confidence interval (CI) within ±5%. Qualitative image quality (sharpness, noise, artifacts, overall) was rated on a 5-point scale. Quantitative image quality was assessed by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the condyle, disc, and background air. Image quality scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and SNR/CNR using paired t-tests. Scan times were directly compared.
A total of 176 TMJs from 88 patients (mean age, 37 ± 16 years; 43 men) were analyzed. DL-reconstructed MRI demonstrated diagnostic equivalence to conventional MRI for disc shape, position, and effusion (equivalence indices < 3%; 95% CIs within ±5%). DL reconstruction significantly reduced noise in PDW and T2W FS sequences (p < 0.05) while maintaining sharpness and artifact levels. SNR and CNR were significantly improved (p < 0.05), except for disc SNR in PDW (p = 0.189). Scan time was reduced by 49.2%.
DL-reconstructed TMJ MRI is diagnostically interchangeable with conventional MRI, offering improved image quality with a shorter scan time.
Question Long MRI scan times in patients with temporomandibular disorders can increase pain and motion-related artifacts, often compromising image quality in diagnostic settings. Findings DL reconstruction is diagnostically interchangeable with conventional MRI for assessing disc shape, disc position, and effusion, while improving image quality and reducing scan time. Clinical relevance DL reconstruction enables faster and more tolerable TMJ MRI workflows without compromising diagnostic accuracy, facilitating broader adoption in clinical settings where long scan times and motion artifacts often limit diagnostic efficiency.
评估深度学习（DL）重建的磁共振成像（MRI）与传统MRI在颞下颌关节（TMJ）成像中的诊断互换性、图像质量和扫描时间。
疑似颞下颌关节紊乱的患者在同一次检查中分别采用传统和DL重建协议进行矢状面质子密度加权（PDW）和T2加权脂肪抑制（T2W FS）MRI检查。三名口腔放射科医生独立评估盘状形态、盘状位置和关节积液情况。通过比较观察者间的一致性来评估这些发现的诊断互换性，一致性定义为95%置信区间（CI）在±5%以内。定性图像质量（清晰度、噪声、伪影、总体）采用5分制进行评分。通过测量髁突、关节盘和背景空气的信噪比（SNR）和对比噪声比（CNR）来评估定量图像质量。图像质量得分采用Wilcoxon符号秩检验进行比较，SNR/CNR采用配对t检验进行比较。直接比较扫描时间。
共分析了88例患者（平均年龄37±16岁；43名男性）的176个颞下颌关节。DL重建的MRI在盘状形态、位置和积液方面显示出与传统MRI诊断等效（等效指数<3%；95%CI在±5%以内）。DL重建在保持清晰度和伪影水平的同时，显著降低了PDW和T2W FS序列中的噪声（p<0.05）。SNR和CNR显著提高（p<0.05），PDW序列中关节盘SNR除外（p = 0.189）。扫描时间减少了49.2%。
DL重建的颞下颌关节MRI在诊断上可与传统MRI互换，图像质量更高且扫描时间更短。
问题 颞下颌关节紊乱患者长时间的MRI扫描会增加疼痛和与运动相关的伪影，常影响诊断时的图像质量。发现 DL重建在评估盘状形态、盘状位置和积液方面与传统MRI诊断等效，同时提高了图像质量并缩短了扫描时间。临床意义 DL重建能够实现更快且更易耐受的颞下颌关节MRI检查流程，而不影响诊断准确性，便于在长时间扫描和运动伪影常限制诊断效率的临床环境中更广泛地应用。
