Pavol Szomolanyi1,
2, Martina Schmid-Schwap3, Margit Bristela3,
Elisabeth Pittschieler4, Astrid Skolka5, Michael Weber,
Eva Piehslinger5, Siegfried Trattnig1
1High
field MR Center of Excellence, Department of Radiology, Medical University of
Vienna/Vienna General Hospital, Vienna, Austria; 2Department of
Imaging Methods, Institute of Measurement Science, Slovak Academy of
Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; 3Department of Prosthodontics,
Bernhard Gottlieb University of
Dentistry,, Vienna, Austria; 4Department of Orthodontics, Bernhard
Gottlieb University of Dentistry, Vienna, Austria; 5Department of
Prosthodontics, Bernhard Gottlieb
University of Dentistry, Vienna, Austria
Our study shows that T2 relaxation time measurements of the articular disc of the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint are feasible, with a good inter-and intraobserver agreement. The proposed T2 mapping technique enabled an ultrastructural analysis of the composition of the articular disc of the TMJ. The highest T2 relaxation times were found in the anterior part of the articular disc, lower T2 values in the central part and the lowest values in the posterior part of the disc. As apparent from comparison to the histological specimens, T2 values correspond to the collagen fibers organization and structure in TMJ disc.
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