Inflammatory change in the upper joint space in temporomandibular joint with internal derangement on gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging.

The object of this study was to clarify the relationship between gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) contrast enhancement of the upper joint space and the severity of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Fifty patients with 63 painful TMJs underwent 1.5T MR imaging with T1-weighted images before and after an intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA with or without fat suppression. The relationship was investigated between the contrast enhancement at the upper joint space and disc position, disc morphology or bone morphology. Of the 63 joints, a significant contrast enhancement in the upper joint space was detected in 32 joints. There was a significant high incidence of anterior disc displacement without reduction in the contrast-enhancement positive group compared to the negative group (P = 0.021), but there was no significant difference for disc morphology (P = 0.094) and bone morphology (P = 0.384). Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging may potentially have diagnostic value for internal derangements of TMJs.