Clinical diagnosis compared with findings of magnetic resonance imaging in internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

İnternal derangement of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has been described as abnormal relationship beetween the disc, articular eminence, fossa and condyl. İn this study it vvas compared to magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings of internal derangement of TMJ. Hundered seventy nine joints of hundered patients, who vvere referred from Selçuk University Faculty of Dentistry with daim of internal derangement in their TMJ vvere examined by MRI. Examination vvas performed at closed and opened mouth position in T1, T2, proton vveighted oblique sagittal plane and closed mouth position in coronal plane. These joints vvere joints vvas divided into four groups as normal, reducted (RA), İrreducted (IRA) and with or vvithout degenerative joint changes according to MRI findings. Clinically they vvere classified as in early, intermediate and late stage. Most of the cases vvere in intermediate (%37) and late (%43) stages. İn early, intermediate, late stages the joints vvere determined normal: 66%, 42%, 10%; RA .26%, 44%, 23%; IRA: 8%, 14%, 67% by MRI respectively. İn RA and IRA joints pain 64%, 83%, limited mouth opening 23%, 66%, clicing 62%, 26%, crepition 11%, 39% vvere found by clinical examination, respectively. Degenerative change of osseos component at the joints vvere freçuently seen in the joints vvith IRA and crepitation. İn the clinical examination of TME vvere significant findings. Also the presence of osseos degenerative changes, vvhich could not be determined by clinical examination, are very important. Because they influence the treatment type and effctivity. We think that in determination of TME joint disfunction, clinical examination and MR findings should be evaluated together.