DIFFERENT DEGREES OF ANTERIOR DISK DISPLA CEMENT OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT AND ITS CORRELATION WITH VARIOUS MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGINGFEATURES - METRIC ANALYSIS AND MORPHOLOGIC ASSESSMENT

In order to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in corre lation with different degrees of internal derangement of the temporoma ndibular joint, we evaluated 117 joints of 59 symptomatic patients and 31 volunteers. Data analysis included morphologic and morphometric ch aracteristics. Sixteen joints (19%) were considered normal, 40 demonst rated anterior displacement with reduction (47%) and 27 anterior displ acement without reduction (32%). In three of the volunteers anterior d isplacement with reduction was noted, Advancing anterior position of t he disk was associated with reduced ability to open the mouth, progres sive deformity and shortening of the disk, thinning of the bilaminar z one, regressive and proliferative bony changes of the condyle, reduced translatory movement of the disk and condyle, thinning of joint space , cranial and dorsal displacement of the condyle and flattening of the slope of the tuberculum. In addition to alterations in condylar and d isk morphology, MRI can demonstrate various additional measurable chan ges that correlate well with the degree of anterior disk displacement.