Alterations of the Temporomandibular Joint on Magnetic Resonance Imaging according to Growth and Development in Schoolchildren

• Main Authors: Tatsurou Tanaka, Tetsuro Konoo, Manabu Habu, Masafumi Oda, Shinji Kito, Masaaki Kodama, Shinya Kokuryo, Nao Wakasugi-Sato, Shinobu Matsumoto-Takeda, Ikuko Nishida, Kazumasa Morikawa, Katsura Saeki, Kenshi Maki, Kazuhiro Tominaga, Shin-ichi Masumi, Masamichi Terashita, Yasuhiro Morimoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2012-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Dentistry
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/695136

The paper explains the alterations of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the growth and development of schoolchildren. Appearance and disappearance of a “double contour-like structure” (DCLS) of the mandibular condyle on MRI according to the growth and development of schoolchildren were demonstrated. In addition, possible constituents of DCLS and the significance of detection of DCLS on MRI were also speculated. The relationship between red marrow and yellow marrow in the articular eminence of temporal bone, the disappearance of DCLS, and alterations of the mandibular condyle have been elucidated.