Quantification of temporomandibular joint space in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis assessed by cone beam computerized tomography.

Objective: To describe a method to calculate the total intra-articular volume (inter-osseous space) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) determined by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). This could be used as a marker of tissue proliferation and different degrees of soft tissue hyperplasia in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients.

Materials And Methods: Axial single-slice CBCT images of cross-sections of the TMJs of 11 JIA patients and 11 controls were employed.

TMJ contrast enhancement in CBCT images using a new algorithm.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard to reliably diagnose inflammation in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). However, even MRI imaging is dependent on the familiarity of the radiologist with the normal appearance of the TMJ; therefore, new approaches are needed. Our purpose here is to improve imaging quality of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a tool to help in the diagnosis of JIA in the TMJ.