MR-IMAGING OF THE TMJ - MR DIAGNOSIS AND INTRAOPERATIVE FINDINGS

Magnetic resonance imaging provides the possibility of a non-invasive method for the investigation of the soft tissues of the temporomandibu lar joint (TMJ). Between March 1991 and August 1992 we performed stati c and dynamic magnetic resonance images (MRI) on 47 TMJs of 37 symptom atic patients using a MR-tomograph with a 6.5 cm surface coil. MR diag nosis could be verified in 15 joints at operation and in 3 cases by ar throtomography. Disc position was confirmed in 80 %, perforations were missed in 2 out of 3 cases and two more perforations became obvious d uring operation. One patient refused MR examination, in 2 cases MRI ha d to be abandoned because of the patient's claustrophobia. In our work we wanted to show that MRI is a reliable tool to determine disc posit ion, disc shape and disc behaviour during motion. Detection of perfora tions is still the domain of arthrography.