The importance of radiography in the diagnosis of TMJ dysfunctions. A comparative evaluation of transcranial radiographs and serial tomography.

Eight men and 22 women with TMJ pain-dysfunction syndrome were selected. After clinical examination, TR and serial tomography were performed in 5 to 7 different planes. In 27 patients, TR showed a condylar displacement. This was confirmed by serial tomography, which also showed that the apparent position may vary from the medial to the lateral aspects due to rotation in some patients. Changes in shape were a common feature and did not necessarily occur in the same manner on each side or in the different sections of the same condyle. In these patients, the TR shape was generally more similar to that of the middle and lateral tomographic planes. The relationship between remodeling pattern and condylar position was confirmed. Degenerative lesions were present in some patients but could only be clearly detected by serial tomography. This study confirms the important role of the TMJ in dysfunctions and the validity of radiography in diagnosis.