Comparison of magnetic resonance tomography with computerized axiography in diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders

This study compared the accuracy of two noninvasive methods, computerized axiography and magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), in diagnosing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Forty-seven subjects underwent axiography and subsquent assessment of the TMJ by MRT. The statistical analysis referred to the correlations of the most relevant clinical diagnoses, i.e., no appreciable disease, disk displacement with reposition, disk displacement without reposition, morphologic alterations, and hypermobility of the condyle. In 70% of the disk-displacement-with-reposition and disk-displacement-without-reposition patient groups, axiography and MRT gave the same information. In other patient groups, the axiography findings agreed with the MRT findings in 45% of the cases. It was concluded that although a large percentage of morphologic alterations could be detected by MRT, axiography determined the dysfunctional dynamics more clearly.