The Role of Ultrasound in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: An Update and Future Perspectives

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Beatrice Maranini¹  Giovanni Ciancio¹  Stefano Mandrioli²  Manlio Galiè²  Marcello Govoni¹ 

[1] Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara;Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Unit of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Ferrara

关键词: ultrasonography;    temporomandibular joint;    temporomandibular joint disorders;    diagnostic imaging;    articular disc;    capsular width;    joint pain;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2022.926573

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is the second most common chronic pain condition affecting the general population after back pain. It encompasses a complex set of conditions, manifesting with jaw pain and limitation in mouth opening, influencing chewing, eating, speaking, and facial expression. TMJ dysfunction could be related to mechanical abnormalities or underlying inflammatory arthropathies, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). TMJ exhibits a complex anatomy, and thus a thorough investigation is required to detect the TMJ abnormalities. Importantly, TMJ involvement can be completely asymptomatic during the early stages of the disease, showing no clinically detectable signs, exposing patients to delayed diagnosis, and progressive irreversible condylar damage. For the prevention of JIA complications, early diagnosis is therefore essential. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is described in the literature as the gold standard method to evaluate TMJ. However, it is a high-cost procedure, not available in all centers, and requires a long time for image acquisition, which could represent a problem notably in the pediatric population. It also suffers restricted usage in patients with claustrophobia. Ultrasonography (US) has emerged in recent years as an alternative diagnostic method, as it is less expensive, not invasive, and does not demand special facilities. In this narrative review, we will investigate the power of US in TMJ disorders based on the most relevant literature data, from an early screening of TMJ changes to differential diagnosis and monitoring. We then propose a potential algorithm to optimize the management of TMJ pathology, questioning what would be the role of ultrasonographic study.

【 授权许可】

CC BY