• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2002

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between internal derangement and osteoarthrosis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: One hundred and six MR images of TMJs in 53 patients were evaluated. Disc displacements and osseous changes of the TMJs were assessed. Lateral and rotational disc displacements were also evaluated on coronal images. Results: No significant differences in the frequency of osseous changes of the TMJs between disc displacement with reduction and disc displacement without reduction groups were found. The erosion of the condylar head and the sclerosis of the articular eminence were more frequent in the internal derangement group than in the no disc displacement group. The flattening was the most frequently observed osseous change of both the condylar head and articular eminence. Conclusion : The relationship between internal derangement and osteoarthrosis is obscure, but it is thought that both disorders adversely affect each other.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between horizontal morphology of lateral pterygoid muscle and onset of temporomandibular joint disorders. Randomly selected 150 subjects, assigned with equal number in terms of gender and age group, were included. The axial and sagittal images in their magnetic resonance images of the temporomandibular joints were used to measure the morphologic characteristics of lateral pterygoid muscles and temporomandibular joints. The measurement variables were maximal horizontal width and insertion angle to the condyle, position of the articular disc, condylar deformity, and joint effusion. In addition, presence or absence of the temporomandibular joint pain was examined through history and palpation of the joints. The relationships among measurement variables were analyzed and the results were as follow. The insertion angle of the lateral pterygoid muscle to the condyle was higher in the joint of anterior disc displacement without reduction than that in the joint of normal disc position. In addition, the maximal horizontal width of the lateral pterygoid muscle was significantly increased in joints with pain than those without pain. Also, the insertion angle was significantly higher in younger age group and the maximal width was significantly greater in male than in female. These results suggest that high insertion angle of lateral pterygoid muscle might be an important anatomic predisposing factor for anterior disc displacement in temporomandibular joint and muscular activity of lateral pterygoid muscle might be affected by preauricular pain. In conclusion, there might be a bi-directional interaction between lateral pterygoid muscle and joint in the progression of anterior disc displacement in temporomandibular joint.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2003

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and frequency of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) effusion in magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with disc displacements. Materials and Methods: On T2 weighted MR images of 148 TMJs taken from 74 patients presenting with TMJ pain and dysfunction, we assessed the cases showing TMJ effusion, defined as an amount of fluid that exceeded the maximum amount seen in a control group of asymptomatic volunteers. The amount of TMJ fluid was graded as: I (none or minimal), II (moderate), III (marked), and IV (extensive), according to a standard set by a reference. Disc displacement categories were also recorded. Results: Of the 148 TMJs examined in this study, 52 joints (35.1%) presented with joint effusion, 24 (16.2%) showing bilateral joint effusion. 38 joints showed upper joint space effusion, 3 showed lower joint space effusion, and 11 showed both upper and lower joint space effusion. 96 joints (64.9%) had grade I joint fluid, 27 (18.2%) grade II, 15 (10.1 %) grade III, and 10 (6.8%) grade IV. 80.0% of the joints presenting with grade IV effusion showed disc displacement without reduction. Conclusion: Joint effusion was found not only in upper, but also in lower joint spaces. The higher the effusion grade, the greater the frequency of disc displacement without reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 2000

Temporomandibular disorders arised from joint itself was caused by inflammation or mechanical irritation of the retrodiskal tissues. Histologic changes of the retrodiskal tissues of temporomandibular joint(TMJ) internal derangement, such as inflammatory cell infiltration, hyalinization, myxoid change, fatty change, arterial obliteration, and so on, were reported, but relationships between magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) findings and histologic findings of the retrodiskal tissue were few reported. The purpose of this study was to find histologic changes of the retrodiskal tissues for status of joint and joint effusion in MRI of the temporomandibular joint which had surgical treatment. Materials were surgically treated 52 temporomandibular joints with internal derangement or osteoarthritis in TMJ clinic, Yongdong Severance Hospital. All joints were confirmed by magnetic resonance T1- and T2-weighted imagings bofere surgery. Status of joint was categorized by normal position, disc displacement with reduction, disc displacement without reduction, disc displacement without reduction associated with osteoarthrosis using preoperative MR T1-weighted images. Magnetic resonance evidence of joint effusion was observed in T2-weighted images and classified by its amount; degree 0(not observed), degree 1(small amount), degree 2(moderate amount), degree 3(large amount). Histologic features were observed whether the retrodiskal tissue has inflammatory cell infiltration, myxoid change, hyalinization, chondroid metaplasia and arterial obliteration. The distribution of elastic fibers were also observed. The results were as follows; 1. Inflammatory cell infiltration was not observed in any retrodiskal tissues. 2. MRI findings such as status of joint and evidence of joint effusion did not have significant relationship with myxoid change, hyalinization, chondroid metaplasia, arterial obliteration of the retrodiskal tissues. 3. Hyalinization and chondroid metaplasia were found in 8 joints(15.4%) and 5 joints(9.6%). All of them were found in disc displacement without reduction and disc displacement without reduction associated with osteoarthrosis. 4. Arterial obliteration was observed more frequently in disc displacement without reduction(55.6%) than disc displacement without reduction associated with osteoarthrosis(28.6%). Further studies with proper controls and more materials will be necessary.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2001

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find the relationship among the joint status, pain and effusion in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Materials and Methods: Materials included 406 patients (812 joints) with clinical records and bilateral TMJ MRIs in TMJ clinic, Yongdong Severance Hospital. All joints were classified in 4 groups in MR images according to the disc status of joint; normal disc position, disc displacement with reduction (DDcR), early and late stage of disc displacement without reduction (DDsR), and also 2 groups according to the bony status of joint; normal bony structure and osteoarthrosis. MR evidence of joint effusion was categorized in 4 groups according to its amount. To determine the relationship between joint pain and joint effusion, 289 patients with unilateral TMJ symptoms were selected from total materials. Result: Joint effusion was found 8.0% in normal disc position, 32.6% in DDcR, and 59.2% in DDsR (83.1 % in early state and 23.1 % in late stage). Joint effusion was found 39.7% in osteoarthrosis and 35.0% in normal bony structure. Joint effusion was more found in the painful joints (49.8%) than in the painless joints (22.4% )(p<0.001). Joint effusion in the early stage of DDsR only was more found significantly in painful joints (91.9%) than in painless joints (62.1 %) (p<0.001). Conclusion : MR evidence of joint effusion might be related to disc displacement regardless of the presence of osteoarthrosis, and the early stage of DDsR was found more frequently combined with joint effusion and joint pain.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2001

Objective. Disc displacement may affect the joint space narrowing between condyle head and glenoid fossa. This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between the joint space change and the directions of disc displacement. Study Design. Two hundreds temporomandibular joints MR images of TMD patients (170 joints) and asymptomatic volunteers (30 joints) were evaluated for this purpose. Anterior disc displacement was divided into 3 stages (normal, little to mild, and moderate to severe displacement) based on sagittal images. And sideways displacement was classified as 3 categories (center, medial and lateral displacement) based on coronal images, then joint spaces were measured at medial, central and lateral parts of condyle head on coronal MR images, respectively. The joint spaces of 7 groups divided according to the severity and the direction of disc displacement were compared. Results. The reduction of the joint space was affected by sideways disc displacement at the opposite side of the condyle head, except the cases accompanied with severe anteriorly and laterally displaced disc. Conclusion. The sideways disc displacement affected on the opposite side temporomandibular joint space width.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.410-416
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• 2001

Objective: Disc displacement may affect the joint space narrowing between condylar head and glenoid fossa. This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between the joint space change and the severity of anterior disc displacement. Materials and Methods: Two hundreds temporomandibular joints MR images of TMD patients(170 joints) and asymptomatic volunteers(30 joints) were evaluated for this purpose. Anterior disc displacement was divided into 3 stages(normal, little to mild, and moderate to severe displacement) based on sagittal images, then joint spaces were measured at medial, central and lateral parts of condyle head on coronal MR images, respectively The joint spaces of 3 groups divided according to the severity of anterior disc displacement were compared. Results: The reduction of joint space was related to the severity of the anterior disc displacement at lateral, medial side and especially at center Conclusion: The temporomandibular joint space was affected by the severity of the anterior disc displacement.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.327-336
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• 1991

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity among the clinical, transcraial radiographic and MRI diagnosis in internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. Fourty two temporomandibular joints were assessed in twenty one patients who visited the dental department of Chonnam National University Hospital with the complaint of temporomandibular disorder from Oct. 1990 to Oct. 1991. The results were as follows: 1. In the clinically symptomatic 29 TMJs, 26 (89.7%) joints reveal disc displacement and 3 (10.3%) joints reveal normal disc position on MRI. The sensitivity of clinical diagnosis was 0.77, and the specificity was 0.63. 2. In the normal 22 TMJs on the trans cranial radiographic finding, 16 (72.7%) joints reveal disc displacement, and 6 (27.3%) joints reveal normal disc position on MRI. In the abnormal 20 TMJs on the transcranial radiographic finding, 18 (90%) joints reveal disc displacement, and 2 (10%) joints reveal normal disc position on MRI. The sensitivity of trans cranial radio- graph was 0.53, and the specificity was 0.75.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.204-212
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• 2019

Introduction : Patients with temporomandibular disorder may have various ear-related symptoms. If an excessive load is applied to the ear area due to the skeletal shape of the mandibular condyle or malposition of the disc, an auditory problems may occur. Case report : The patient was referred to our clinic due to the suspicion of temporomandibular disorder from the local otorhinolaryngology clinic. A few days ago, his right ear could not be heard. MRI showed that the left TMJ disc was anterior displacement with reduction, the right TMJ disc was anteromedial displacement without reduction. Also Right mandibular condyle showed sclerotic bone change, subchondral cyst and was compressing the frontal wall of the ear on MRI view. Right TMJ arthroplasty was done under the diagnosis of right TMJ osteoarthritis and osteochondroma. Postoperative intermaxillary fixation was done with SAS screw and elastics for 2 weeks. One month after the operation, hearing and TMJ discomfort were recovered without any complications. Conclusions As seen in this case, hearing loss due to benign tumor-like lesions of the temporomandibular joint should be treated surgically to restore the TMJ function and hearing.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the size and morphology of mandibular condyle and mandibular fossa between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement (DD) patients and healthy subjects using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Twenty healthy subjects and twenty TMJ DD patients participated in this study respectively. We made five measurements in mandibular condyle (medio-lateral dimension, antero-posterior dimension, condyle height, intercondylar distance and intercondylar angle) and two measurements in mandibular fossa (mandibular fossa depth and articular eminence angle) using CBCT image. Results: There was no difference between two groups in medio-lateral dimension. In case of antero-posterior dimension, average of healthy controls was larger than that of TMJ DD patients, but that was not significant statistically. There were no significant differences between two groups in condyle height. Comparing intercondylar distance and intercondylar angle between two groups, there was no significant difference between two groups. In comparison of mandibular fossa depth and articular eminence angle, there was no significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: We couldn't find any definite relationship between TMJ morphology and TMJ DD.