Diagnosis of internal derangement of temporomandibular joint by ultrasonography: our experience

ABSTRACT

The Temporomandibular Joint [TMJ] is one of the most difficult parts of the body to be visualized clearly by radiograph because of interference from superimposed structures. To compare the US and MRI finding results in diagnosis of TMJ internal derangement [ID] in Iraqi patients. From April to November 2004, 46 patients with temporomandibular [TMJ] disorders were observed in the consultation clinic of the oral maxillofacial surgery department in Al-Kadhimiyia Teaching Hospital. All the patients have symptoms of disk internal derangement [DID.]; pain and many of them have clicking, crepitation, and/or locking. All the patients were examined by Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and ultrasound. The results of US were compared with the results of 18 volunteers [18 joints] without symptoms of DID. Our study showed perfect agreement between MRI and US in all the cases. This is considered an important advantage since US, is more available in our hospitals than MRI and also more easy and simple to be performed than MRI and also accepted by the patients than MRI. US may help in the confirmation of the normal disk position in subjects presenting symptoms of normal disk position. US can be used as an alternative method to MRI in the diagnosis of DID. of TMJ