Diagnostic Imaging in TMJ Osteoarthritis: A Case Report and Overview

摘要

Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative joint disease affecting human body and most of this disability is attributable to the involvement of hips or knees. In rare instances, it can influence the temporomandibular joint. Osteoarthritis is strongly associated with ageing. Sometimes, patients may display signs and symptoms of osteoarthritic disease with no radiologic evidence of any joint pathology or vice versa. The diagnosis is essentially based on clinical and radiological examination. However, laboratory tests and radiographic examination are also useful to exclude other temporomandibular joint diseases. Erosion, sclerosis, flattening, osteophytes, joint mice and Ely’s cysts were some of the radiographic findings in the present case. CT is the imaging modality of choice for evaluating bone involvement and for diagnosing and establishing the degree of the disease, which was performed in the present case. Here we present a rare and a characteristic case of osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint diseases.