J Oral Rehabil. 2021 May 25. doi: 10.1111/joor.13209. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The current diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) do not require imaging for the diagnosis of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle and there is a lack of data investigating the effectiveness of imaging modalities in predicting long-term TMJ DJD prognosis.
OBJECTIVES: To verify the association between initial bone scintigraphy results and long-term DJD bone changes occurring in the TMJ condyle on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
METHODS: Initial bone scintigraphy, panoramic radiography, and CBCT results were analyzed in relation to long-term (12 months) TMJ DJD bone change on CBCTs in 55 TMD patients (110 joints). Clinical and radiographic indices were statistically analyzed among 3 groups (improves, no change, worsened) based on long-term TMJ DJD prognosis calculated by destructive change index (DCI).
RESULTS: Neither the uptake ratio nor visual assessment results from initial bone scintigraphy showed a significant difference according to long-term condylar bone change groups. The cut-off value of bone scintigraphy uptake ratio was 2.53 for long-term worsening of TMJ DJD. Worsening of TMJ DJD was significantly associated with the diagnosis based on panoramic radiography(P=0.011) and CBCT(P<0.001). Initial DCI (β=-0.291, P=0.046) had a significant association with long-term worsening of TMJ DJD.
CONCLUSION: Initial bone scintigraphy results do not show sufficiently close associations with long-term TMJ DJD prognosis. This should be considered in the selection process of imaging modalities for TMJ DJD patients. Future studies are needed to develop prognostic indices that comprise both clinical and imaging contents for improved predictive ability.
PMID:34032306 | DOI:10.1111/joor.13209
