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Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the submandibular gland in suppurative sialadenitis, primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and radiation‐induced sialadenitis using the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for differential diagnosis. Subjects and Methods: This retrospective study included 16 patients with suppurative sialadenitis (n = 9), pSS (n = 3) and radiation‐induced sialadenitis (n = 4) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging between June 2006 and May 2022. The ADC of the submandibular glands in each state was calculated, and the differences were analysed using a one‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the ability of the ADC to distinguish each condition. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean ADC value (×10−3 mm2/s) ± standard deviation in the control (non‐affected side of the suppurative sialadenitis group), suppurative sialadenitis, pSS and radiation‐induced groups were 0.94 ± 0.16, 1.24 ± 0.16, 1.33 ± 0.13 and 1.5 ± 0.12, respectively (p < 0.001). The diagnostic value for distinguishing each group was ≥0.75. Conclusion: ADC values are useful for quantitatively assessing and distinguishing submandibular glands in suppurative sialadenitis, primary Sjögren's syndrome and radiation‐induced sialadenitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to apply diffusion‐weighted imaging to the evaluation of cervical lymph nodes affected by medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Methods: This retrospective study analysed the diffusion‐weighted imaging data of 70 patients with or without MRONJ (Stages 0–3). The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the submandibular (level IB) and superior internal jugular (level IIA) nodes in the control and MRONJ groups were calculated, and differences were analysed using the Mann–Whitney test. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the ability of ADC values to predict lymph nodes that were affected by MRONJ. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The median [interquartile range] (×10−3 mm2/s) of level IB was 0.74 [0.7–0.81] and 0.93 [0.84–1.09] and that of level IIA was 0.79 [0.76–0.85] and 0.97 [0.84–1.06] in the control and MRONJ groups respectively. ROC analysis revealed that the ADC value had excellent ability to discriminate between the control and MRONJ groups. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that diffusion‐weighted imaging can contribute to differentiation of MRONJ from other cervical lymph node diseases and facilitate early detection of MRONJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and masticatory muscles by analyzing the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained from diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 36 patients who underwent MRI examinations at our hospital from August 2006 to March 2022. We also included a control group consisting of 39 patients with normal TMJs who were examined during the same time frame. To compare the ADC values of the masticatory muscles between the two groups, DW‐MRI was employed. Results: RA patients exhibited significantly higher mean ADC values in the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles compared to the control group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated cutoff values of 1.14, 1.15, and 1.28 for the ADC values of the masticatory muscles in RA patients, with corresponding maximum ADC under the curve values of 0.53, 0.60, and 0.65. Conclusions: The study revealed a notable distinction in the condition of the masticatory muscles between patients with RA and the control group, implying that the ADC measured through DWI holds promise for evaluating the association between masticatory muscles and RA. Furthermore, these findings suggest that DWI could serve as a valuable tool in identifying the presence of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of normal salivary glands and acute submandibular sialadenitis (SS). Methods: This retrospective study included 22 patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Nihon University School of Dentistry between February 2018 and May 2022. ADC values were compared between the acute SS and control group. Data with non‐normality confirmed by Shapiro–Wilk test was analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean ADC values were 1.03 ± 0. 09 × 10−3 and 1.22 ± 0.17 × 10−3 mm2/s in the normal and acute SS groups, respectively (p < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed a cutoff ADC value of 1.1 for distinguishing acute SS from the normal. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ADC values are useful for the quantitative assessment of acute SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the masticatory muscles between patients with and without temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ‐OA) on diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: This prospective study included 120 patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including 60 patients with TMJ‐OA and 60 without TMJ‐OA, and 60 without TMD patients. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the TMJs at our hospital between November 2011 and January 2017. The regions of interest included the right and left lateral pterygoid muscles, medial pterygoid muscles, and masseter muscles on axial slices. Magnetic resonance images from the TMJ‐OA and control groups were independently evaluated by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists. ADC values were compared between the two groups using Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: The respective mean ADC values of the lateral pterygoid muscles in patients with TMJ‐OA and controls were 1.18 × 10−3 and 1.33 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively. Those for the medial pterygoid muscles were 1.14 × 10−3 and 1.25 × 10−3 mm2/s, while those for the masseter muscles were 1.20 × 10−3 and 1.28 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively. The mean ADC values of the normal lateral pterygoid, normal medial pterygoid, and normal masseter muscles were 1.29 × 10−3, 1.09 × 10−3, and 1.08 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively. Conclusion: Among patients with TMDs, the ADC values of the masticatory muscles were significantly higher in patients without TMJ‐OA than in those with TMJ‐OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to assess the parotid glands in diabetes mellitus (DM) using diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI). Methods: We investigated 54 patients aged between 38 and 83 years, with DM (DM group) and without DM (control group), who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the facility between November 2006 and January 2021. We calculated the median apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the parotid glands in the control group and DM group. These groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U tests. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the ability of the ADC to predict DM. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The median ADCs of parotid grands in the control group and DM group were 0.83 × 10−3 mm2/s and 0.74 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively (p < 0.01). ROC analysis revealed a cut‐off ADC value of 0.81 to distinguish between the control and DM group. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the ROC curve were 0.7, 0.67, 0.69, and 0.71, respectively. Conclusion: The ADC was significantly higher in DM groups than in the control group. This suggests that DW‐MRI may be able to quantitatively distinguish parotid glands between normal and DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to quantitatively assess the changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the tongue with aging using diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI). Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the ADC map of 480 patients (230 men, 250 women; mean age, 53.66 years; age range, 20–89 years) with the tongue not affected by disease, between January 2018, and February 2020. The Mann–Whitney U test was performed with the ADC value as the explanatory variable and the sex as the criterion variable. Moreover, we calculated the Spearman's correlation coefficient with age as the criterion variable and ADC value as the explanatory variable. Results: A significantly positive correlation was found between age and ADC values of the tongue in the men and women groups (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed between the sex and the ADC values of the tongue (P = 0.19). Conclusions: These findings suggest that age should be taken into consideration when making a differential diagnosis of the tongue using ADC values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used to diagnose temporomandibular joint disease. However, very few studies have assessed the relationship between the mandibular gonial angle and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders using panoramic radiography and MRI. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the gonial angle and articular disk position of the TMJs using panoramic radiography and MRI. Material and method: The patients underwent panoramic radiography and MRI simultaneously at a university hospital between April 2017 and March 2018. We analyzed the records of 109 patients with and without disc displacement. Among these, 88 patients had disc displacement of the TMJ, while 21 patients were normal. The variable "mean mandibular gonial angle" was evaluated as a predictor. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of disc displacement in the TMJs. The other variables included sex and age. Data were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, the Mann–Whitney U test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference between men and women in mean gonial angle, and there was no correlation with age (P > 0.05). Moreover, the mean mandibular gonial angle in the disc displacement group was significantly higher than that in the nondisc displacement group (P < 0.01). ROC analysis revealed a cutoff mandibular gonial angle of 120.23° for predicting the development of disc displacement. Conclusions: Mandibular gonial angle is a useful parameter for predicting disc displacement of the TMJs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]