Temporomandibular joint: comparison of single- and double-contrast arthrography.

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Abstract
Lower-space, single-contrast arthrography and dual-space, double-contrast arthrotomography were sequentially applied to 58 fresh temporomandibular joint (TMJ) autopsy specimens, and the findings were compared with observations in corresponding cryosections. Both modalities had high accuracy rates (.ltoreq.84%) and no statistically significant differences between the two techniques were found. A side-by-side comparison of the two types of arthrograms, however, revealed that video tape recording of lower-space, single-contrast arthrography was superior in demonstrating joint dynamics and that dual-space, double-contrast arthrotomography was superior in demonstrating the soft-tissue anatomic features of the joint. It appears that lower-space, single-contrast arthrography can be recommended for examination of patients with clicking, catching, and intermittent locking, and that dual-space, double-contrast arthrotomography is preferable when information about morphologic alterations is clinically more important than information about joint dynamics.