Temporomandibular joint: relationship between MR evidence of effusion and the presence of pain and disk displacement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to correlate MR evidence of joint effusion in the temporomandibular joint with symptoms of joint pain and the presence of disk displacement and arthrosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The temporomandibular joints of 379 patients with clinical symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders and 11 asymptomatic volunteers were imaged bilaterally. Sagittal and coronal proton density-weighted and T2-weighted images were obtained. Imaging findings of joint effusion were correlated with the presence of disk displacement and arthrosis and the symptom of pain.
RESULTS: MR showed effusion in 7% of the joints with normal superior disk position, 40% of the joints with disk displacement with reduction, 50% of the joints with disk displacement without reduction, and 27% of the joints with arthrosis. Two of the control subjects had disk displacement with reduction; MR did not show joint effusion in any of the control subjects. A strong association was seen between joint effusion and joint pain. Joint effusion was seen in 46% of the joints on the more painful side and in 13% of the joints on the less painful side.
CONCLUSION: The results show that temporomandibular joint effusions primarily occur in joints with disk displacement and are strongly associated with joint pain.