[Computerized tomography in the diagnosis of craniomandibular disorders: radiological-surgical comparison]

Among 500 C.T. scan of temporomandibular joint (T.M.J.), examined since 1982 by bilateral direct sagittal method (Department of Radiology, Pr. A. TREHEUX, C.H.U. Nancy-Brabois), the authors have retained 14 cases of patients with symptoms related to dysfunction of the T.M.J. cured by surgery (Department of Maxillo Facial Surgery, Pr. STRICKER, C.H.U. Nancy). These cases were chosen among hundred patients annually examined by C.T. scan, for various diseases (dysfunctions of the T.M.J., traumatisms, infections, inflammatory diseases...). These correlations between radiology and surgery about 26 T.M.J. (2 patients underwent surgery only on one side) were: an accuracy with surgical findings for 19 cases (76%); in 6 cases (23%), a meniscus anteriorly displaced, non detected by C.T. scan was found by surgery; 2 cases of meniscus perforations (one in the frontal plane, the other sagittal) were surgical findings; in 1 case, a displacement was under-valued by C.T. scan; in 3 cases, arthrosic changes (1 case of REITER syndroma) were characterized by C.T. scan. The authors emphasize the value and the limits of evaluation of the internal derangements of the T.M.J. with direct sagittal C.T.