The association of temporomandibular joint pain with abnormal bone marrow in the mandibular condyle

Purpose: This study investigated the association between temporomandibular joint pain and bone marrow alterations in the mandibular condyle seen on ma gnetic resonance (MR) images. Patients and Methods: The study was based on 112 temporomandibular joints i n 112 patients with disc displacement without reduction. Thirty-four patien ts with abnormal bone marrow on MR images were compared with a control grou p of 78 patients with normal bone marrow. The analysis was based on proton density and T2-weighted MR images in the oblique sagittal and coronal plane s. The degree of pain was correlated to the status of the bone marrow using statistical methods. Results: The degree of pain in joints with abnormal bone marrow was higher than in joints with normal bone marrow signal on MR images (P = .0045). Conclusion: Because the stage of internal derangement was similar in both g roups, more intensive pain appears to be associated with bone marrow altera tions.