Diagnostic Accuracy on Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis, which is also called degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is primarily a disease that results from the breakdown and loss of cartilage in joints. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance images for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients (50 joints) with closed locking of the temporomandibular joint were examined with magnetic resonance imaging and then underwent arthroscopic surgery. The agreement of osteoarthritis between magnetic resonance images and arthroscopic findings was studied using the κ coefficient. RESULTS: The incidence of osteoarthritis on magnetic resonance images (38%) was significantly lower than that in arthroscopic findings (78%). There was no significant agreement between these two findings (p=.108). The κ coefficient was 0.154. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance images for osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint was low; early osteoarthritis could not be diagnosed from magnetic resonance images. Clinicians should understand that the diagnostic accuracy of osteoarthritis without arthroscopy is not always high.