Internal derangements of the temporomandibular joint: diagnosis by direct sagittal computed tomography.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Direct sagittal computed tomography (CT) was performed on 4 cadaver temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and 51 TMJ were examined in 47 patients clinically. The results were correlated with cadaver anatomical sections and clinical arthrographic findings. A fat plane between the bellies of the lateral pterygoid muscles, termed the lateral pterygoid fat pad, served as the anatomical basis for detection of internal derangements by CT. CT was 94% accurate in detecting meniscal derangements and 96% accurate in detecting degenerative arthritis. Perhaps, CT rather than arthrography should be employed as the primary TMJ imaging modality when internal derangement or arthritis is suspected.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: