ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in expert ratings of quality of magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the temporomandibular joint in 24 patients with suspected anterior disc displacement examined in randomized order at 1.5 and 3.0 T. Parasagittal (closed and opened mouth) and paracoronal sections were performed with a surface coil. Two experienced examiners blinded to patient status and type of MRI diagnosed the images according to position of condyle, position and changes in the signal, and disc shape. In addition, perceptibility of position and disc shape were assessed. A highly significant difference in the perceptibility of disc shape (P < 0.001) and position (P < 0.001) was obtained. With comparable examination sequences and identical resolution, the 3.0 T MRI of the temporomandibular joint increases the perceptibility of joint structures.
Subject(s)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome/diagnosis , Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome/pathology , Temporomandibular Joint/pathology , Adult , Diagnostic Imaging/methods , Female , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Observer Variation , Reproducibility of Results , Single-Blind MethodABSTRACT
This is the second part of a two-part series on the clinical applications of high-field-strength (3.0-T) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy. In this part, the current level of evidence regarding the use of higher magnetic field strengths for cardiac imaging techniques (including the assessment of cardiac anatomy and function), breast and pelvic imaging, musculoskeletal applications, pediatric imaging, and MR spectroscopy is presented. Published data are interpreted from the perspective of the clinical radiologist. Specific difficulties associated with high-field-strength MR for body imaging and for spectroscopic applications are reviewed and compared with the expected or documented added value of high-field-strength MR for clinical patient care. The overall number of studies published on clinical body high-field-strength MR is still small, and there is evidence for a clinical advantage for selected, but not all, body MR imaging applications. Even without published evidence, clinical experience suggests substantial clinical advantages for musculoskeletal and pediatric applications.
