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As part of quality assessment of a teleradiology program we evaluated the validity of patient information received, the quality of panoramic radiography imaging in Laos, and the ability of a Laotian radiologist to detect temporomandibular joint abnormalities. The amount of patient information gathered from 2,021 scans of panoramic radiographs was evaluated by triage before image diagnosis. Among the radiographs from 2,021 patients, primary triage indicated that there was insufficient information for 794 (39.3%) patients. Secondary triage to assess imaging failure included 1,227 radiographs, four of which were excluded from imaging diagnosis because of unacceptable image flaws. In total, 2,446 joints from 1,223 radiographs were evaluated for temporomandibular joint abnormalities in order to compare the image interpretation abilities of Laotian and Japanese radiologists. The kappa coefficient was 0.836 (P < 0.01) for the agreement between the two observers in detecting temporomandibular joint abnormalities on radiographs. We conclude that additional efforts are needed in order to overcome the challenges of maintaining quality in imaging techniques and diagnoses in Laos.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) thickness and condyle morphology and the influence of the number of remaining teeth and age., Methods: Cone beam CT data sets from 77 asymptomatic European patients were analysed retrospectively in this study. The thinnest area of RGF was identified among the sagittal and coronal slices on a computer screen; distance measurement software was used to measure the thickness. Moreover, we applied a free digital imaging and communications in medicine viewer for classification of condyle head type. It was also used to analyse any relation between RGF thickness and the number of remaining teeth. We performed a correlation analysis for RGF, age and missing teeth. Finally, we investigated combining sagittal condyle morphological characterization with coronal condyle morphology in relation to the number of joints and RGF thickness., Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no significant differences in RGF thickness among any of the coronal condyle head morphology groups (p > 0.05). There were significant differences in the thinnest part of RGF in relation to the sagittal plane for condyle morphological characterization, because we observed increased RGF thickness in joints with osteoarthritis features (p < 0.05). There is a non-significant correlation between the thinnest part of the RGF and the number of remaining teeth (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: We found that the RGF thickness is unaffected by the coronal condyle head morphology and the number of remaining teeth. Osteoarthritic changes (sagittal condyle morphology) have an effect on RGF.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in measuring thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)., Study Design: Minimum RGF thickness in 95 TMJs of 59 patients with temporomandibular disorders were measured and compared on both sagittal-section MRI and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). RGF thickness on MRI was also compared with MRI, CBCT, and arthrographic findings., Results: Minimum RGF thickness was greater on MRI (1.46 mm) than on CBCT (0.90 mm). Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank for these 2 types of measurements was 0.63. RGF thickness on MRI differed significantly between those with and without degenerative joint changes (1.69 vs 1.32 mm; P < .01) and between those with and without disk displacement (1.58 vs 1.35 mm; P = .04), but showed no associations with disk deformity, joint effusion, or disk perforation., Conclusions: MRI is useful in measuring RGF thickness from diagnostic as well as radiation protection standpoints., (Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the minimum thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) of grossly normal temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and to correlate this with patient gender, age and the morphological classification of the mandibular head., Methods: The study was performed on 191 TMJs from 109 patients (25 male and 84 female, age range 3-79 years, mean age 28.1 years) who visited Nihon University Dental Hospital, Japan with suspected TMJ disorders. The patients underwent cone beam computed tomography (3DX CT) to enable observation of the morphological features of the mandibular head. The minimum thickness of the RGF was measured using frontal section images acquired by CT. The morphology of the mandibular heads was classified according to the method of Yale and colleagues. Mean linear measurements were used for statistical analyses of patient gender, age and mandibular head morphology., Results: The average minimum thickness of the RGF was 0.79 mm. No significant difference in thickness was found between male and female patients. In addition, no differences were recorded as a result of variation in age or mandibular head morphology., Conclusions: These results indicate that RGF thickness is not significantly correlated with gender, age, or mandibular head morphology, at least in this cohort of patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the limited cone-beam X-ray CT (3DX) (Morita Co., Japan) in measuring the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)., Materials and Methods: Twenty-one TMJs removed at autopsy from 21 cadavers were investigated macroscopically using dissection and 3DX imaging. A Digimatic Outside Micrometer and a 3DX-image tool were used to measure the minimum thickness of the RGF. Multiple measurements were made to identify the thinnest area. Once the thinnest areas had been identified, three linear measurements were made and the average value was used for statistical analysis., Results: The average macroscopic examination measurement was 1.37 mm (range 0.55-3.6 mm) and the average 3DX image measurement was 1.22 mm (range: 0.51-3.0 mm). There was no significant difference between these two groups using the Mann-Whitney U-test (P < 0.05). The Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank between these two groups was r = 0.93(P < 0.001)., Conclusion: These results suggest that bone thickness measurements of the RGF by 3DX imaging was effective.

This case report describes, for the first time, the use of interventional radiology following arthroscopy with a thin arthroscope for the diagnosis and treatment of synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Therapeutic joint irrigation concomitant with arthroscopic observation of the superior joint compartment (SJC) was performed in a patient with functional TMJ pain caused by SC. The thin arthroscope was inserted with the aid of an X-ray fluoroscope. Arthroscopy confirmed that the SC was at disease stage II and that synovitis existed throughout the SJC. The initial maximal interincisor opening (MIO) was 30 mm, while after the joint-irrigation procedure the MIO was 40 mm. In addition, the TMJ pain was greatly reduced after joint irrigation. Our findings demonstrate that interventional radiology with a thin arthroscope is clinically useful for the diagnosis and primary treatment of patients with painful SC in the TMJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the minimum thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) of grossly normal temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and to correlate this with patient gender, age and the morphological classification of the mandibular head. Methods: The study was performed on 191 TMJs from 109 patients (25 male and 84 female, age range 3-79 years, mean age 28.1 years) who visited Nihon University Dental Hospital, Japan with suspected TMJ disorders. The patients underwent cone beam computed tomography (3DX CT) to enable observation of the morphological features of the mandibular head. The minimum thickness of the RGF was measured using frontal section images acquired by CT. The morphology of the mandibular heads was classified according to the method of Yale and colleagues. Mean linear measurements were used for statistical analyses of patient gender, age and mandibular head morphology. Results: The average minimum thickness of the RGF was 0.79 mm. No significant difference in thickness was found between male and female patients. In addition, no differences were recorded as a result of variation in age or mandibular head morphology. Conclusions: These results indicate that RGF thickness is not significantly correlated with gender, age, or mandibular head morphology, at least in this cohort of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]