J Korean Acad Oral Maxillofac Radiol.  1997 Aug;27(2):117-126.

A comparative study of the detectability of TMJ radiographic techniques for artificial mandibular condylar lesions

• Jeong HJ
• Jung YH
• Cho BH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detectability of various radiographic techniques for mandibular condylar lesions. Erosive lesion, osteophyte and flattening were formed on the artificial mandibular condyle, and panoramic, transcranial, transorbital radiography, lateral and frontal tomography were taken. The results were as follows; 1. The detectability for erosive lesions was superior in the order of frontal tomography(96%), lateral tomo graphy(78%), transorbital(59%), transcranial(56%) and panoramic(48%) radiography. 2. The location of erosive lesion that showed the highest detectability was the medial third in panoramic, the lateral third in transcranial, the central portion of anteroposterior direction in transorbital, the central portion of mediolateral direction and the posterior third in lateral tomography. Frontal tomography disclosed all erosive lesions except one anterolateral lesion. 3. The detectability of osteophyte was 100% in lateral tomography, 78% in transcranial and 56% in panoramic radiography. 4. For flattening, lateral tomography showed the flattened condyle, but both panoramic and transcranial views showed only decreased bone density without the change of condylar shape.

MeSH Terms

Bone Density
Mandibular Condyle
Osteophyte
Radiography
Radiography, Panoramic
Temporomandibular Joint*