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A 22-year-old patient with eosinophilic gastroenteritis with predominantly submucosal and muscular involvement is presented. The benefits of CT, using water as an orally administered contrast agent, are stressed, because CT enabled the authors to suggest a full thickness biopsy, after mucosal biopsies had remained repeatedly negative.

Although arthrography of the TMJ is nowadays considered as old-fashioned, the technique remains a valuable alternative in cases where MRI is contraindicated. The authors discuss the technique of inferior joint space arthrography and present a review of typical arthrographic cases of the most common types of TMJ pathology.

A case of large pedunculated gastric leiomyoma with intermittent prolapse into the duodenum, causing a somewhat confusing clinical picture is presented. Ultrasound-, CT- and barium studies clearly showed the origin and extent of the tumor. Sonography was the only imaging method that showed intermittent prolapse of the tumor during examination. Imaging studies did not allow prediction of the benign nature of the tumor.

One of the major disadvantages of sagittal arthrotomography of the temporomandibular joint is its limited capability to detect sideways (medial or lateral) disk displacement. Several arthrographic signs, suggesting sideways disk displacement have been described in recent reports. The most important one is the edge sign. In doubtful cases, arthro-CT can be used for depiction of medial or lateral disk displacement.

Clinical, arthrographic and surgical findings in 20 patients who showed persisting TMJ-pain or dysfunction after an acute traumatic event were reviewed and compared to findings in a control group of 65 patients who did not remember an acute post-traumatic onset of symptoms. Anterior disk displacement (82%), disk perforation (65%) and rotational anteromedial disk displacement (34%) were the most common abnormalities encountered. Other important abnormalities were joint adhesions and capsule perforation. When compared with the control group, all these abnormalities occurred more often in traumatised joints. Arthrography was found to be highly accurate in detecting most types of abnormalities found during surgery. Arthrography is reported to be more effective than MRI in detecting disk perforations, adhesions and capsule perforations, which points to its continuing importance as an imaging tool for evaluating post-traumatic temporomandibular joint disorders.

The goal of the study was to assess the predictive value of inferior joint space arthrography for detection of abnormalities found during surgery. Therefore, a retrospective analysis of arthrographic and surgical findings in 120 joints was performed. Arthrography showed high accuracy for detection of anterior disk displacement (90%) and disk perforation (90.8%). The shape of the anterior recess proved to be the most valuable arthrographic criterium for detection of anterior disk displacement. Cinematographic registration of joint dynamics after injection of contrast material and arthrotomographic analysis of the shape of the superior margin of the anterior recess of the inferior joint space were necessary for an optimal evaluation of the disk position.

In this text we briefly want to discuss the role of the arthrographic examination of the temporomandibular joint for detection of disc pathology. We will mention the normal anatomy and function of the temporomandibular joint, the technique for performing arthrograms and the classification of the most frequent disc pathology. This will be illustrated by some arthrographic examples of anterior disc displacement without reduction, disc perforation, and medial disc displacement. Finally the advantages of arthrography in comparison with other investigation techniques will be discussed.