Sound signals versus magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders

Abstract EN

Objective: Abnormalities within the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) often produce audible sounds, which were analyzed with phonoarthrography and confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Patients & Methods: Thirty TMJ disorders patients were selected for this study.

They were divided clinically into two groups: 8 patients forming a silent group (26.6%) and 22 patients forming a sound group (73.3%).

Results: Five patients of the silent group, (out of the 30, 16.6%) were found to have sounds when tested with phonoarthography and their MRI revealed subchondral sclerosis in 13.3%.

While in the sound group, 7 patients had continuous sound on phonoarthrography revealing degenerative joint disease on MRI examination.

The remaining 15 patients had sounds on closing or opening or both cycles, their MRI examination revealed 11 patients showed disc displacement with reduction, 3 patients showed disc displacement without reduction and only one patient showed MRI of normal pattern.

Conclusion: Phonoarthrography is a potentially valuable method for early diagnosis of joint disorders and the investigation of choice for follow-up of TMJ disorders while the MRI is a noninvasive, nonionizing radiation technique with a diagnostic accuracy in assessing the TMJ derangement.