Title:Age and Gender-related Morphometric Assessment and Degenerative Changes
of Temporomandibular Joint in Symptomatic Subjects and Controls using Cone
Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT): A Comparative Analysis
Volume: 20
Author(s): Xiaoyin Hu, Bhavana Sujanamulk, Chintamaneni Raja Lakshmi and Changhui Li*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, People’s Hospital of Luxian County, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, 646100, China
Keywords:
Temporomandibular joint diseases (TMD), Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), Condylar fossa, Glenoid fossa, Saggital plane, Articular eminence.
Abstract:
Background:
The temporomandibular joint diseases have been associated with various predisposing factors. Joint spaces, articular eminence height and
inclination, and the shapes of the condylar and glenoid fossa have all been shown to vary in temporomandibular joint diseases (TMD) patients.
Advanced imaging techniques like cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) have been employed to estimate these parameters.
Aims and Objectives:
The aim of the current study was to investigate the condylar morphology, condylar and glenoid fossa shapes, and assessment of joint spaces, such
as anterior, posterior, superior, lateral, and medial spaces, through CBCT slices in coronal and sagittal planes and compare them between the
control group and TMD group.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was planned where 80 joints in 40 patients were assessed for the above parameters; group I consisted of healthy patients,
and group II included those with temporomandibular joint diseases (TMDs). The articular eminence height and inclination were assessed on the
midsagittal section. The condylar changes and shapes of the glenoid fossa and condyles, as well as the joint spaces, were assessed on the selected
coronal and sagittal sections.
Results:
The condylar fossa had a triangular shape in the TMJ group and an oval shape in the control group. The results were highly significant (P =
0.000**). A highly significant difference in morphological parameters, such as AJS, PJS, SJS, MJS, LJS, articular eminence height, and
inclination, was found between the two groups (P = 0.000**). The association of morphological parameters, such as AJS, PJS, SJS, MJS, LJS, and
articular eminence height and inclination were compared with condylar and glenoid fossa shapes, where the association of superior joint space and
articular eminence inclination was observed. A highly significant difference was noted between the two groups with regard to all the parameters
with P=0.00*.
Conclusion:
The articular eminence inclination, as well as the superior joint space, were found to be associated with the glenoid and condyle fossa shapes in the
TMJ group. These observations would, therefore, help in the early diagnosis of temporomandibular joint diseases.
