Patients and methods: 31 patients with clinically diagnosed dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; 1.5 Tesla, TR/TE 600/30) in closed and open mouth position and functional arthrography with digital image recording.
Results: Both methods agreed in the evaluation of the disc position. In 23 joints with displaced disc reposition was found in 11 cases and in 14 cases using MRI or arthrography, respectively. MRI proved to be superior in the diagnosis of sideways disc rotations. Joint hypermobility, eccentric disc displacement (n = 4) and perforation (n = 3) were shown by functional arthrography. Due to the good demonstration of osseous, muscular and discoligamentous structures, MRI as a noninvasive imaging modality is the method of choice for TMJ evaluation. Arthrography can be advantageous in complex functional disturbances or if MRI and clinical findings are inconclusive. The clinical diagnosis of disc displacement was found to be accurate in only 68% of the cases.