Radiology, Vol 160, 767-771, Copyright © 1986 by Radiological Society of North America
Temporomandibular joint: correlation between single-contrast videoarthrography and postmortem morphology
PL Westesson, SL Bronstein and J Liedberg
Arthrography of the temporomandibular joint is widely performed in clinical
practice. The diagnostic accuracy of this technique has not been
systematically evaluated. Therefore, findings from transcranial
single-contrast, lower-compartment videoarthrography of 58
temporomandibular joint autopsy specimens were correlated with postmortem
morphology. Arthrographic diagnosis of disk position and perforation was
confirmed in 47 joints (81%). Misinterpretations were made in 11 joints;
nine concerned disk position and two concerned perforation. Analysis of the
misinterpretations revealed that inability of arthrography to allow
differentiation of lateral from medial resulted in four false-negative
diagnoses and one false-positive diagnosis. Variation of joint anatomy with
disk deformation resulted in four false-positive diagnoses of anterior disk
position. The number of false diagnoses in clinical practice might be
reduced if transcranial single-contrast, lower-compartment
videoarthrography is followed by multilayer arthrotomography in cases with
an unclear diagnosis.
