Purpose: This study evaluated the usefulness of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRAr) in imaging the pathologic temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Patients and methods: Thirteen TMJs of 11 patients with chronic TMJ pain and disability were examined with MRAr. T1-weighted and T2-weighted first spin-echo sequence with fat suppression images were obtained after the intra-articular injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine.
Results: The disc, the posterior attachment, and the presence of perforations and adhesions were evaluated in each image. All of these anatomic and pathologic structures were clearly detected.
Conclusion: MRAr appears to be a promising imaging modality in detecting adhesions and perforations in the TMJ. The MRAr findings simplified the decision of whether a patient should undergo surgery.